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.
Klitschko vs. Solis
Solis suffers torn cruciate ligament in loss to Vitali
By Dave Lahr: According to reports, Odlanier Solis’ (17-1, 12 KO’s) his right knee has been confirmed by a German hospital in Cologne, Germany. Solis suffered a torn cruciate ligament and torn meniscus in his 1st round knockout loss to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KO’s) on Saturday night at the Lanxess Arena, in Cologne, Germany. Solis had been dominating the round with right hand power shots and fast punches.
Vitali defeats Solis after the Cuban’s right leg gives out
By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KO’s) was able to record a quick stoppage in on Saturday night after hitting previously unbeaten Cuban challenger Odlanier Solis (17-1, 12 KO’s) with a glancing blow in the last seconds of the 1st round that knocked Solis off balance, causing him to injure his right knee in the process in their fight in Lanxess Arena, in Cologne, Germany. Solis hit the deck and was unable to get back to his feet. The fight was then stopped by referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia at that point.
Klitschko stops Solis: Odlanier dancing on ice
By Lewis Croft: The stage was set for Odlandier Solis (17-1, 12 KOs) to become the first Cuban Heavyweight champion in history. Everything suggested that his traing camp went well by coming in at his lightest as a professional fighter. and experts suggested that this fight would be a tough battle for the ageing champion, Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KOs). What followed next was in complete contrast.
The heavyweight division is fading into oblivion
By Allen Hmiel: Whatever happened to the glory days of heavyweight boxing, the days of Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Ali, Liston, Frazier, Holmes, Tyson? The heavyweight Boxing title is the most prestigious title in all of sports. Boxing fans honor and revere the World’s heavyweight champ or at least they used to.
Odlanier Solis = A bigger, slightly weaker version of Sonny Liston: Vitali will lose on Saturday
By Dave Lahr: WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko’s heavyweight reign is about to end on Saturday against the hard hitting highly skilled former 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Odlanier Solis (17-0, 12 KO’s) in their battle in front of what will likely be 19,000 German fans at the Lanxess Arena, in Cologne, Germany. A lot of boxing experts and fighters are picking the 30-year-old Solis to win this fight and it’s for good reason – he’s talented and better than Vitali. He’s going to beat Vitali on Saturday, take his title and maybe, just maybe, send Vitali into a permanent retirement.
Solis in the best shape of his pro career, but still looks fat for Vitali bout on Saturday
By Chris Williams: Odlanier Solis (17-0, 12 KO’s) weighed in at 246 1/2 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in ahead of Saturday’s fight against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KO’s) in Cologne, Germany. While 246 doesn’t sound like a lot of weight for a heavyweight, it does when you look at how soft Solis looks and note his limited 6’1″ height. Vitali came in at 249 lbs, but at six inches taller at 6’7″ and looking a lot more lean. Heavyweight boxing isn’t a bodybuilding competition but it’s not a good thing for a fighter to look as if they need to cut another 20+ pounds the way that Solis is looking.
Klitschko-Solis on Saturday
By Lewis Croft: This Saturday in Cologne, Germany, 2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlandier Solis (17-0, 12 KOs) challenges three time Heavyweight champion,Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KOs) for the WBC Championship. Part of the famous Cuban Amateur background Odlandier Solis dominated the heavyweight amateur scene and is focused on doing the same in the pro ranks. Since turning pro, Solis is undefeated as a fighter taking on lower level fighters. From a trim 200 lbs in his amateur days all the way to 271 against his bout with Monte Barrett (34-9, 20 KOs) his weight has increased dramatically.
Crunch time for Solis
By John F. McKenna (McJack): Crunch time will arrive for Odlanier Solis when he steps into the ring in Germany on Saturday night at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany against WBC Champion Vitali Klitschko. Although most fans and boxing writers think that Odlanier Solis AKA “La Sombra” (17-0, 12 KO’s) will be disposed of with relative ease by Vitali Klitscho AKA “Dr. Ironfist” (43-2, 38 KO’s), there are those who insist that Vitali is slowing down and that Odlanier has the style, youth and skill to pull off what would be a monumental upset.
Solis’ trainer says Vitali doesn’t understand the trouble he’s in for on Saturday
By Jason Kim: Pedro Luis Diaz, the trainer for unbeaten heavyweight contender Odlanier Solis (17-0, 12 KO’s), believes his fighter is at his best weight imaginable for Solis to beat WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (41-2, 38 KO’s) on Saturday night. Solis scaled in at 246 pounds compared to the 249 lbs for Vitali. Thus far, Solis’ best weight of his career was 246 1/2 lbs for his fight against 6’5″ Cisse Salif in March 2008.