By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KO’s) had no choice but to take on his number #1 contender the unbeaten Odlanier Solis (17-0, 12 KO’s). The fight couldn’t be put off any longer, as Vitali would have been stripped if he had looked to duck Solis any further. On March 19th, Vitali is going to have wished that he could have found a way out of this fight by vacating the title rather than facing Solis, because Vitali is going to be exposed and badly beaten by the younger, faster and more talented Cuban when they meet up at the Lanxess-Arena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Vitali, 39, will have the advantage of fighting in his adopted home of Germany. However, it won’t matter much because this fight won’t be going to a decision. There won’t be any controversy in this fight, because Solis isn’t looking for a decision. He’s going to jump on Vitali immediately and start backing him up with power shots and never-ending punches. That’s how you beat Vitali. You move forward and put shots together one after another without stop. Vitali can’t handle those kinds of fighters and will be sucking wind and needing rest breaks.

Chris Byrd, a much smaller fighter than Vitali at only 205 lbs, was able to beat Vitali by coming at him and throwing a ton of punches. The constant shots and pressure from Byrd had Vitali red in the face and totally gassed out. Finally, Vitali quit after the 9th round rather than come out for the 10th and take more punishment and pressure from Byrd. This is what Solis is going to be doing in his fight with Vitali, only he’s going to be throwing with more speed and power than Byrd. This fight is going to get out of hand early with Solis’ work rate. Yeah, I expect another injury on Vitali’s part that will bail him out from having to be stopped in a humiliating fashion. I just hope the “injury” doesn’t occur too early. I want it to be clear that Solis is the superior man by leaving Vitali a mess.