WBA to let Wladimir take optional defense

By Boxing News - 01/30/2013 - Comments

wladimir1By Allan Fox: IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) has reportedly been given permission for an optional title defense on April 6th by the World Boxing Association, according to fightnews.com. This means that Wladimir won’t have to fight his previously ordered fight against WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin.

Wladimir will now likely face Odlanier Solis (18-1, 12 KO’s), as that’s the fight that has been mentioned as one that Wladimir’s team are considering for April 6th.

Povetkin’s promoter Kalle Sauerland is pretty upset about the idea of Wladimir temporarily bypassing his fighter Povetkin for an optional title defense against Odlanier Solis. Sauerland said on his twitter this week “Klitschko is trying to dodge his Povetkin mandatory to fight Solis (he lost KO 1 v Vitali), 1 fight since then, not even ranked. Still can’t get over it. SOLIS! Daylight robbery of boxing fans time & $. Since when d’ya lose by KO, then almost direct [get] another chance.”

Solis blew out his right knee in a 1st round injury stoppage loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in March of 2011. Solis has since had three separate surgeries to repair his badly damaged knee and he came back finally after 14 months out of the ring to defeat Konstantin Airich by a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision in May of last year. Solis was near a career-high in weight at 267 ½ lbs, and looked in terrible shape for that fight.

He’s been training a lot since then, and he should be in much better shape if Wladimir decides to face him on April 6th in Germany. Solis will never be the lean 200 pound Cuban heavyweight that he once was when he captured a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics, but he can be a force if he can get down to the mid-240s.

Believe it or not, that’s in shape for Solis. He’s incredibly quick and highly skilled despite his weight problems, and he’ll make for a good opponent for Wladimir if he selects him. Solis will easily be the best fighter that Wladimir has faced since his win over David Haye in July 2011, and Solis might give Wladimir a tougher time because Solis beat Haye in the amateur ranks.



Comments are closed.