lan Fox: IBF North American heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek (47-2, 29 KO’s) will be fighting Cuban Odlanier Solis (18-1, 12 KO’s) on December 22nd at the Sands Casino Resort, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States, according to Boxingnews.com.ua. The Adamek-Solis fight still might not happen unless the 32-year-old Solis wins his October 12th fight next month against the hard hitting Leif Larsen (16-0, 13 KO’s) in their scheduled 10 round fight at the Madrid Arena, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid.

That could potentially be a very tough fight for Solis for four of five rounds before Larsen gasses out. Solis might win the fight, but end up getting cut or injured in some way because Larsen is very strong. Solis is leagues ahead of him in experience both at the amateur and professional level.

Adamek, 35, is trying to get a title shot against IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir as quickly as possible and the only way that Adamek can do this is by taking on dangerous opponents like Solis. Adamek has beaten Eddie Chambers and Travis Walker in his last two fights, although Adamek appeared to lose to Chambers and that was some really strange scoring in that fight.

Solis will be a really tough fight for Adamek if he comes in shape. Adamek is probably counting on Solis gassing out early enough for him to win by a decision or an injury. Adamek isn’t going to be able to outbox Solis when the Cuban is at full strength. Solis is clearly a better fighter than Adamek is and a lot faster.

However, Solis is carrying around a lot of fat on his 6’1″ frame and he seems to wear down quickly in his fights. He’s also very rusty having missed an entire year of action after tearing up his knee in a loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. It looks like Adamek is trying to get another rusty fighter in choosing him. Chambers was also very rusty when Adamek fought him, and it’s doubtful that Adamek would have chosen to face him had he been active.

Solis has really good skills and he could possibly beat Adamek if he can fight hard for 12 rounds. Adamek likes to set a fast pace, however, and that would put added pressure on Solis to try and keep up with him. Solis doesn’t have a lot of power and he’ll be wasting his time if he tries to KO Adamek. Both of these guys are little more than pumped up cruiserweights carrying muscle – and fat around – that doesn’t translate into heavyweight power. Adamek is no more powerful now than he was when he fought at cruiserweight, and Solis is still roughly the same fighter he was when he fought at 200 pounds in the amateur ranks. His power hasn’t increased at all. The only thing that’s increased his been his waistline and his weight.

Solis will have to make sure he can get through the Larsen fight in one piece like I said, if he suffers a cut or some bruises in that fight then it might be enough to keep him from making a quick turn around by fighting Adamek two months later.