Cuban dud unlikely to produce fireworks against Vitali

[WelshDevilRob]

Cuban dud unlikely to produce fireworks against Vitali Klitschko

 

The overweight Odlanier Solis is just about the ideal, risk-free opponent for the unambitious Ukrainian's seventh defence

 

by Kevin Mitchell

 

This weekend the talking stops for a while in the heavyweight barnyard of horse manure, and Vitali Klitschko has to put it on the line against the Cuban with the big mouth and belly, Odlanier Solis.

 

Klitschko, we understand, has had to drag his failing if still impressive body to the gym to get ready for the seventh defence of his old WBC title (since his comeback three years ago) in Cologne on Saturday night. Maybe he thinks Solis will provide no more of a test than any of the other sub-standard opponents who have fronted up to him since he took the title back by beating up Sam Peter.

 

Solis, as he likes to remind people, beat David Haye in the finals of the World Amateur Championships in Belfast 10 years ago. Since turning over in 2006 the Cuban defector, who is now 30, has embraced the professional game as if it were poison ivy. "It's just a job," he says. "I don't even like boxing, never look at tapes."

 

So, honest and dumb at the same time.

 

I took another look yesterday at Solis's most recent fight, a 10th-round disqualification win over Ray Austin in December, and it made for sorry viewing. The excellent Bob Mee summed it up perfectly for Eurosport viewers in the eighth round: "I've got Austin three points behind with four rounds to go, so he needs to do something … He needs to do more, even against a lethargic Solis … Goodness me, this is making the late, lamented overweight heavyweights of the 80s look all-time greats. What are they doing in there?"

 

Earning an easy living at punters' expense was the obvious answer.

 

Will Klitschko-Solis be any different? We can only hope so. My guess is it will be a fight along the lines of Klitschko-Peter, a strong, upright champion against a challenger whose ambitions extend not far beyond doing enough to collect his loser's cheque.

 

I hope I'm wrong. Solis has genuine talent, but next to no dedication. And you can bet Haye will be hoping he does not spring an upset before he gets his hands on the aging Vitali, now 39.

 

Where did it all disappear to with Solis? As a teenager he defeated the legendary Felix Savon twice in the amateurs. He is heavy-handed and knows the ring like his own living room. But he looked sold out against Austin, who is 40. It was a disgraceful performance for what was billed as an official title eliminator.

 

I think he came to a decision about the professional game fairly quickly: he could get away with minimal effort and still keep winning. One day, he reckoned, he would still be standing long enough to go to the front of the queue for a lucrative world title shot.

 

He is almost the perfect opponent for Klitschko.

 

Source: wwww.guarduan.co.uk

[iamasadlittleboy]

That writer needs shooting. What the fuck is he talking about?

 

The overweight Odlanier Solis is just about the ideal, risk-free opponent for the unambitious Ukrainian's seventh defence

 

What? The guy and his brother has beaten everyone around, Solis, a top amateur was a mandatory.

 

. Maybe he thinks Solis will provide no more of a test than any of the other sub-standard

 

The standard, whether Mr Mitchell wants to accept it, is set a fair bit lower than Solis. I don't think Solis is upto much the "standard" is much much lower.

 

So, honest and dumb at the same time.

 

Yeah real mature Mr Mitchell, lets call the guy dumb because he views it as a job and is good enough to not feel the need to watch tapes.

[grapevine241]

poorly written but i cant argue that solis will be a dud

[Joe Ko]

I disagree, I think this will be Vitali toughest night since his comeback, I am hoping Solis comes in 230-245 and that would be the best Solis. If we see Solis over 245 same old Klitschko win

[londoner]

Was that written by someone at the Guardian??? That seems very odd. The Guardian is one of Britain's only decent papers. I expect drivel from the Daily Mail or the Sun but expect more from the Guardian.

[WelshDevilRob]

Was that written by someone at the Guardian??? That seems very odd. The Guardian is one of Britain's only decent papers. I expect drivel from the Daily Mail or the Sun but expect more from the Guardian.

 

Yep from the Guardian. Seems a very lazy article and I have to doubt how much the writer actually follows the sport.

[iamasadlittleboy]

Was that written by someone at the Guardian??? That seems very odd. The Guardian is one of Britain's only decent papers. I expect drivel from the Daily Mail or the Sun but expect more from the Guardian.

 

Yep from the Guardian. Seems a very lazy article and I have to doubt how much the writer actually follows the sport.

 

I'm assuming it's the same Kevin Mitchell who did "Frank" with Bruno who does actually know his stuff...perhaps he's been forced to cover the fight instead of Bute v Magee, Casey v Rigondeaux or Gonzalez's title fight and is sulking a bit...