by James Slater – Last night in Florida, a few hours after Ring magazine, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko had dominated and then sensationally KO’d challenger Eddie Chambers in the last round in Germany, unbeaten Cuban contender Odlanier Solis made short work of Costa Rica’s Carl Davis Drummond.
29-year-old Solis, the former amateur standout, weighed-in at 268-pounds for last night’s fight and proved to be way too strong for the 35-year-old; making him quit on his stool at the completion of a 3rd-round that saw Drummond take some hard shots. “La Sombra” improved to 16-0(12). Drummond fell to 26-3(20).
It just may be that, when searching the heavyweight landscape in the hope of finding a heavyweight who can beat, or at the very least test, either Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko, Solis is the fighter fans are now looking at. No, I’m not saying Solis proved too much with last night’s win (or in any of his other pro victories come to that), but he is big and strong, he has that excellent amateur experience behind him, he can punch and, as with his promoter Ahmet Oner, he seems to have the belief he can beat not only “Dr. Steel Hammer,” but also big brother Vitali.. Solis is actually more likely to face the WBC champion, rated at#2 with that organisation as he is, yet a fight with either brother could happen.
Let’s face it, David Haye aside, both K brothers are fast running out of credible opponents to fight, and would Solis do any worse than, say, Chambers did against Wladimir last night? Solis has a good, long reach at a reported 79″ (to 80″ for Vitali, 81″ for Wladimir Klitschko) and he is built akin to a tank. If the Cuban defector ever does land a fight with Wladimir or Vitali, I think we will see him got for it and either crash and burn doing so or maybe even pull off the upset. But then, am I clutching at straws in the hope of one day seeing the Klitschkos made to fight hard? Probably.
Still, promoter Oener, in being quoted by FightNews, said yesterday that his man will be the fighter to end the reign of the Klitschkos. Oener wants Solis to next face Ray Austin (somehow the #1 with the WBC) in a final eliminator for “Dr. Iron Fist.”
“Vitali Klitschko had the chance to accept Solis for his next voluntary title defence,” he said. “He chose to fight [Albert] Sosnowski instead and I think tonight everybody knows why. Solis is too dangerous. That’s why we will make him mandatory challenger. As soon as Odlanier gets his hands on Vitali the reign of the Ukrainian brothers will be over.”
Personally, though he is a tough old warhorse, I don’t see Solis having too many problems with “Rain Man” Ray Austin, and if he does win that fight next he may well get in there with Vitali, or maybe even Wladimir. For sure, I’d have to give the big Cuban as much of a chance against the brothers as I would either Alexander Povetkin or David Haye; if either of those two ever get in there with the giants that is.