By Erik Schmidt: Former 2004 heavyweight Olympic Gold medalist Odlanier Solis (11-0, 7 KOs) stopped journeyman Chad Van Sickle (22-9-3, 12 KOs) in the 1st round on Friday night at the Kugelbake Halle, Cuxhaven, in Niedersachsen, Germany. Solis, 28, dropped the badly over-matched two times in the round before the referee finally stepped in and halted the slaughter at 1:38 of the 1st round. Solis, who has struggled with his weight since turning professional in 2007, came into the fight weighing a portly 256, much too heavy for his 6’1″ height, if you ask me. His American opponent, Van Sickle, looked even more overweight, weighing a chunky 237, and although the figure doesn’t sound heavy in comparisons to most modern heavyweights, it looked bad on him. There was a lot of loose fat around his midsection.
Solis, sporting the new bald look for his head, went after Van Sickle at the then opening bell, landing a right hook to Van Sickle’s soft midsection, and then pounding him with several more powerful punches in the same area. Solis then landed a hard right hook to the head of a terrified looking Van Sickle, sending him down to the canvas. It all happened so quickly that Van Sickle looked shock at seeing himself down so quickly, because he had only taken a handful of punches before finding himself on the canvas.
He got up, and was met with more fire power from Solis, who looked like a chubby, wild hairless bull going for the kill on another heavy bull. Seeing Van Sickle’s thick midsection as the most inviting of all target, Solis aimed a series of hard punches to that area, hitting him twice and missing once. He then landed two short right hands that sent Van Sickle down for the second time. After the knockdown, Van Sickle looked ready to continue fighting, but the referee called a halt to the fight at 1:38 of the round given the mismatch in talent between the two fighters.
Solis, at one time a trim and in shape 200 pound fighter in the Olympics, had put on a lot of weight since turning professionally. Unfortunately, not all of it has been in the way of muscle, because he now looks far too heavy for his height. He does appear to have put on a little more muscle since his last fight against Harry Duiven Jr. three months ago, but along with it he appears to have also put on a generous coat of additional fat.
So far, his good hand speed has made up for his hefty weight, but it’s doubtful that will continue to be the case when he finally steps it up against better competition than the spoon fed journeyman that he has been served up since turning professional. He’s being match much to soft and needs better opponents than the likes of Van Sickle. At least he needs a fighter that can punch back rather than serve as a punching bag for him.
Believe me, he’s going to be in for a rude awakening once he finally steps it up against better competition. Solis needs to immediately lose a good 25 pounds of blubber around his midsection, and then focus on facing better fighters. He looks as if he’s been eating a lot of rich foods since moving to Germany, and I can only imagine the kinds and amounts of foods that have been going down his gullet. He needs to step away from the table a little sooner than he’s been doing because he’s going to eat his way out of boxing if he gets much bigger.