Will Vitali Klitschko fight Odlanier Solis next?

By Chris Williams: With the bout against former World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev off the table due to his promoter wanting too much money for a fight, WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KO’s) is exploring the possibility of facing unbeaten contender Odlanier Solis (15-0, 11 KO’s) next while he waits to see if WBA heavyweight champion David Haye can get by his mandatory challenger John Ruiz in April.

Klitschko, 38, was hoping to get a nice money fight against Valuev, but unfortunately his promoter Don King wanted more money than the Klitschko management were will to offer for this fight. The word is that Klitschko offered $2.5 million, but Valuev’s side wanted $4 million. It’s hard not to blame Klitschko for wanting to give that much of a cut, because Valuev lost his last fight against Haye, and looked quite poor in losing.

Valuev also looked equally bad in winning a controversial 12 round majority decision in his previous bout against Evander Holyfield in 2008. Solis, 29, is obviously a better opponent than Valuev, but his conditioning seems to be getting worse and worse the longer his pro career goes on. In his last fight, the 6’1” Solis weighed 271 against Monte Barrett in October.

Luckily for Solis, the fight ended quickly with him taking on Barrett in the 2nd round. Had the fight gone much further past that, Solis’ poor conditioning might have been exposed? However, for Klitschko to be able to fight Solis, he’s going to have to have HBO pick up the fight so that he can have enough money to pay him for his services.

HBO won’t likely be interested in a Klitschko-Solis fight. If they’re not interested in showing Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir Klitschko’s bout next month against American Eddie Chambers, they surely won’t be interested in seeing Vitali Klitschko face Solis, a fighter that is virtually invisible to casual boxing fans in the United States.

Solis, with his excellent hand speed, great boxing ability and good power, would be one of the best opponents that Klitschko has had in awhile. Solis at least would make it interesting for awhile unlike Klitschko’s last opponent, Kevin Johnson, who covered up all night long against the ropes in his 12 round decision losing effort in December.

If the fight against Solis doesn’t happen, then Klitschko’s options are much less appealing. He could face Ray Austin, but he’s already been stopped previously by Wladimir. That wouldn’t be a good fight. James Toney, now 41, would seem to be far too small for Vitali to fight at only 5’9”. It wouldn’t be sporting if Klitschko fought him.

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