Benedita, the fighter from Vassouras

The fighter that no one expected

The second opponent was a capoeirista from Recôncavo, fast, agile and dangerous. He circled around her, repeated the sweeps and kicks. Benedita took it, observed, looked for the rhythm.

When she found him, she moved forward like a thrown force. One blow to the chin is enough to stop him.

The third fight was more difficult. His opponent, a former soldier in the Prata War, was technical, experienced and cruel. The fight lasted four minutes. He broke her nose. She broke three of his ribs and won on points.

In the final, the sun was setting. Benedita was bleeding and barely standing, but she was still there.

In front of her was Tomás, a huge man measuring 2.10 m and 150 kg, son of a human trafficker. He had killed six men in clandestine fighting.

Eduarda de Araújo came down to the ring and asked Benedita if she was brave or crazy. Then she added that she wanted to hire him if she won.

Benedita spat blood on the ground and replied:

“I’m not for sale. “

The last fight

Tomás struck with overwhelming violence. Each of his blows seemed capable of finishing the fight. Benedita dodged, responded, but fatigue slowed her movements.

In the third assault, Tomás hit her with an uppercut which sent her against the ropes. She fell.

The crowd exploded.

At the edge of the ring, Joaquim shouted:

“Get up! For Vicente, for your freedom, stand up! “

Through the pain, Benedita heard his voice. She thought of the chains, the four properties, the foremen, the nights spent tied up. Something inside her stood up before her body even followed.

She got up.

Tomás moved forward to finish him off. Benedita waited until the last moment, then gathered all the strength she had left in an upward blow to her chin.

Tomás froze, his eyes turned, then he collapsed like a mountain.

The crowd remained silent, before bursting into shouts, applause and amazement.