It was announced yesterday that WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (41-2, with 38 KOs) will defend his title against undefeated Cuban boxer Odlanier Solis (17-0, with 12 KOs). The fight will be held March 19 at LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany.
This will be a mandatory title defense for the 39 year-old Klitschko, as Solis is now ranked the number one challenger in the world by the WBC after defeating Ray Austin in a title elimination match just last month in Miami, FL.
Solis is a three-time amateur world champion and the 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Having won a total of 227 of a total 241 bouts in the amateurs, Odlanier Solis will join other Cuban fighters as among the most decorated amateurs of all time.
Now he attempting to capture a major professional world title in only his 18th fight; this despite the fact that outside of a couple division gatekeepers (Ray Austin and Monte Barrett), the 2006 defector from the Cuban national team has fought virtually nobody of any threat.
In a press release issued by Klitschko Management Group, Odlanier Solis was talking tough, promising to put some serious hurt on the champion.
"The Klitschkos seem to think that I am just another opponent like the last tomato cans they cherry-picked so Vitali could easily beat them up,” said Solis.
“But I am not only the mandatory challenger. I have been the best amateur fighter in the world and I will prove that I am the best professional fighter as well. Klitschko should be afraid to lose his title. I will end his career.”
As for the champion, outside of the usual respect shown towards virtually any challenger, Vitali Klitschko doesn’t seem to have a care in the world.
"I have heard and read different quotes from Solis saying that I tried to avoid him,” said the champion.
“This is nonsense. There's a reason why I'm WBC Champion and I am proud of holding the same title that Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis held. I will show inside the ring that I am the strongest heavyweight champion and I am 100 percent sure I will successfully defend my title. But I know Solis is a very tough opponent and I will not underestimate him."
The fight will be televised live on RTL in Germany, but the broadcast of the event in the United States is still yet to be determined.
Comments