By Jason Kim: Things weren’t going well for WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KO’s) for most of the 1st round on Saturday night against the faster Cuban Odlanier Solis (17-1, 12 KO’s), who was having his way with Klitschko until the last 15 seconds of the round when Solis’ right leg collapsed out from under him after getting hit with a short right hand with Solis off balance. Solis was unable to re-establish his balance as his knee wouldn’t hold his weight.

Solis attempted to get back up to his feet but right leg wouldn’t allow him to continue. Vitali was then given deemed the winner of the fight while a shocked German crowd booed Solis for not continuing to fight. After the bout, Solis said “It was definitely the knee. It could be that I took a wrong step.” This seems to be confirmed by the instant replay that showed Solis’ right leg giving out on him after getting hit with Solis bent over in an awkward position. The punch barely landed on the top of Solis’ head but caused him to lose his balance and cause his leg to give out.

Sadly, Vitali won’t get much credit for this win because he was having problems with Solis’ hand speed and skills up until the injury. Perhaps Vitali would have gotten to Solis at some point in the fight, but at the time the fight ended, Solis looked like the better fighter and didn’t seem to be having any problems with Vitali. It came down to Solis’ power punches against Vitali’s jabs and Solis was winning the war in the opening round. It’s hard to say who would have won the fight if the injury hadn’t occurred because there was still so much of the fight ahead.