DAVID PRICE would not be shocked if Odlanier Solis signaled the end for Vitali Klitschko tomorrow night.
The 6ft 8in Liverpool hopeful has been sparring with the Cuban who challenges for Vitali Klitschko’s WBC heavyweight crown in Cologne tomorrow night (SAT).
Price spent a week in Spain, being a Klitschko clone and said: “An upset wouldn’t surprise me, but I was baffled by Solis.
“There were times we sparred when I thought that he was one of the very best.
“On other occasions I thought either I was world class right now or he was ordinary.
“I watched a DVD on Thursday of Lennox Lewis beating Vitali. Back then Vitali was five times faster than he seems now and Solis could be in the right place at the right time.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he fought similar to what David Haye did against Nikolai Valuev and used footwork to stay out of trouble and nick rounds.
“When we were sparring his trainer would be telling him to do all sorts with his feet and that did bamboozle me.
“He is certainly fit enough to do 12 rounds because his sparring has been four minutes rounds.”
The lighter Solis comes in the better his chances and Price added: “I never saw his body definition because he was always covered up.
“His team though are amazingly confident and can only see one winner, Solis.
“His career has flattered to deceive and he hasn’t looked great at times, but this could be the night he shines.
“Cubans were like that in the amateurs. They would labour against an unknown Norwegian in one fight and the next day look sensational against the best Russian.”
Price, 27, will return to his hometown at Liverpool’s Olympia on April 27 and faces overseas opposition before a summer British title eliminator against John McDermott.
And the Olympic bronze medallist fancies his chances as Britain’s answer to the Klitschko brothers adding: “They are the blue print for heavyweight success.”
In a mouth-watering main event next month British featherweight champion John Simpson (22-7) faces Liverpool’s Commonwealth king Stephen Smith (11-0) in a rematch.
In their first meeting last year Smith took a controversial points decision, but Simpson bounced back by taking Martin Lindsay’s British crown.
The show will be televised live by Sky Sports.
Tickets priced £35 and £65 are available 0871 226 1508 or www.frankmaloney.com.