by James Slater – Despite weighing-in at a whopping 271-pounds, the heaviest weight yet in his pro career, unbeaten Cuban heavyweight hope Odlanier Solis put on what is arguably his most impressive display thus far last night on the big Madison Square Garden show. Halting the experienced and always dangerous Monte Barrett inside just 2-rounds, the big 29-year-old who captured Olympic gold as an amateur got the job done a whole lot quicker than rival heavyweight contender David Haye did last year.
It may not mean too much, after all “Two Gunz” was a late replacement last night, he was coming back after a near year-long layoff, and the 38-year-old did take plenty of stick in his 5-round TKO loss to “The Hayemaker.” Nevertheless, “La Sombre’s” second-round win at the one-minute and 54-second mark looks good on paper.. If we do keep the Solis-Haye comparison going, we can also throw in the fact that Solis defeated the Londoner as an amateur. Solis, at approx 270, is a lot heavier than Haye, but at 6’1″ he is the shorter man. It’s possible neither guy would have much of a chance against the Klitschkos, but Solis is apparently shooting for a shot at one of the two world champs.
Haye, of course, gets WBA boss Nikolai Valuev next, and should he win, down the road a “revenge” type fight between he and the Cuban defector would be interesting indeed. The weight issue has to be dealt with by Solis, though. As talented as he is, Solis doesn’t appear to have matched Haye’s work ethic in the gym. Last night against Barrett, stamina never came into play, and Solis had no problems having to carry all that weight into the later rounds. But will coming in too hefty catch up with the 15-0(11) contender one day?
As for Barrett, who fell to 34-8(20), his career must now be over. A good, gutsy warrior who fought some of the best in his time, the New Yorker has taken more than enough hurt in the ring and his losses have grown lately. Coming back admirably to face Solis at short notice, “Two Gunz” again gave it a go, but his punch resistance is no longer capable of taking the kind of left hands Solis cracked him with last night.
For Solis, it’s a case of onwards and upwards. For Barrett, it’s surely a case of enjoy your well earned retirement.