By Per Ake Persson

So was ex-heavyweight champ Nikolai Valuev exposed by David Haye and before that by Evander Holyfield and Ruslan Chagaev as "just" a giant, incapable of boxing? Some seem to think so, not me though. I think it´s a case of a fighter who´s getting old, simple as that. More...

At its 47th Annual World Convention in Jeju, Korea this week, the WBC announced the new world ratings. After his impressive second round TKO victory over former world title challenger Monte Barrett, heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis advances to rank #3 after only 15 pro fights.

“I am very grateful that my merits are appreciated the way they are”, states Solis. “Still, being recognized as the #3 heavyweight in the world is not what I turned pro for. I will continue to work hard to prove that I am the no. 1. More...

Saturday night in New York, Arena CEO Ahmet Öner celebrated his first show at legendary Madison Square Garden, co-promoting “Island Warriors – Latin Fury 12” with Top Rank and PR Best Boxing.

Today the Turkish/German promoter is back in Hamburg to celebrate his 38th birthday with family and friends. His Cuban stars Odlanier Solis and Yuriorkis Gamboa made Öner early birthday presents with their stunning performances at MSG, knocking out opponents Monte Barrett and Whyber Garcia, respectively. More...

Legendary Madison Square Garden has seen a lot of great ring battles, but only very few debuts as impressive as the ones of Odlanier Solis and Yuriorkis Gamboa Saturday night at “Island Warriors: Latin Fury 12”, co-promoted by Top Rank, Arena and PR Best Boxing.

Heavyweight sensation Solis needed only two rounds to get rid off two-time world title challenger Monte Barrett while David Haye, Wladimir Klitschko and Nikolai Valuev all needed far more time to stop the durable and hard-hitting 38-year-old. More...

There's a big show tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York as WBA feather champ Yuriorkis Gamboa and WBO super bantam titlist Juan Manuel Lopez put their respective crowns on the line.

Former Cuban defector Gamboa, 15-0 (13), could be the most impressive professional to come out of the boxing-rich island but it's too early to tell yet if this is truly the case.

After only 15 pro bouts, Gamboa has displayed stunning speed and reflexes that have thus far supported his superb punch selection and aggressiveness.

But, with such an emphasis on offense, there are holes in the defense. This has resulted in the Cuban phenom getting decked a few time but "El Ciclon de Guantanamo" has always gotten back up to win.

Last time out, the 27 year old Gamboa won the Interim WBA belt by stopping Jose Rojas in the tenth in April and has since been elevated to full WBA champ. More...

Walking through the streets of Manhattan these days you might bump into a Turkish boxing promoter accompanied by two of his Cuban stars who really seem to have a good time in the “Big Appple”.

But although they are laughing a lot, Ahmet Öner, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis haven’t come to New York just for fun.

This Saturday things will get very serious for Gamboa and Solis when they give their debuts at legendary Madison Square Garden. More...

Undefeated world champions Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa defend their titles, in separate fights, headlining “Island Warriors: Latin Fury 12,” Saturday, October 10, from the “Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden.

Lopez will be defending his WBO junior featherweight title against top contender and Tanzania native Rogers Mtagwa while Gamboa will be defending his WBA featherweight belt against Panamanian strongman Whyber Garcia. More...

After Wladimir Klitschko’s one-sided win over Ruslan Chagaev on Saturday night in Germany, heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis feels it’s time for him to take over in order to bring back action and excitement to the division.

“To me this fight showed why nobody is interested in heavyweight boxing at the moment”, said Solis. More...

Aside from Miguel Cotto's WBA title defense against Joshua Clottey on Saturday, there were a few good shows in America on Friday night.

Former WBA light welter Diosbelys Hurtado, 42-3-1 (25), won a 12 round unanimous decision over Manuel Garnica, 25-11 (13), in defense of the WBO Latino strap and Cuban heavyweight prospect Odlanier Solis, 14-0 (10), rubbed out Dominique Alexander, 18-7-1 (9), in the first round.

At The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, ex-WBA super bantam boss Bones Adams, 44-6-4 (20), returned to the ring after a year on the sidelines to stop Alex "Ali" Baba, 26-16-1 (19), in the eighth stanza.

At the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA, ex-featherweight world champion Robert Guerrero, 24-1-1 (17), made his lightweight debut by stopping former USBA titlist Efren Hinojosa, 30-6-1 (17), in the eighth frame of a ten rounder. More...

Heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis impressed the audience at Miccosukee Resort in Miami with a devastating first round KO win over journey man “Diamond” Dominique Alexander.

The three-time world amateur champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist dropped his opponent twice, the second time at2:55 minutes, as Alexander lay face down on the canvas when referee Frank Santore jr. counted him out. More...

After Wladimir Klitschko has neglected his offer to step in for injured David Haye to fight the IBF / WBO / IBO champion in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20th Arena’s heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis (13-0) will be back in action this Friday, June 12, at Miccosukee Resort & Gaming in Miami, Florida, against “Diamond” Dominique Alexander (18-6-1).

Solis has just recovered from a hand injury which prevented him to fight “Fast” Fres Oquendo earlier this year. More...

After David Haye had to pull out of his showdown with IBF/WBO/IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko due to a hand injury Arena’s heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis offers to step in for the challenger right away.

“I am ready to go”, states Solis. “If Wladimir Klitschko dares to accept me as opponent I promise to expose him and strip his championship belts from him.” More...

© Arena Box Promotion

In the last couple of weeks it has been quiet around heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis.

After dominating and stopping “Big Man” Kevin Burnett in his US and ESPN debut on January 9, “La Sombra” suffered a hand injury while preparing for a fight against “Fast” Fres Oquendo. More...

Arena CEO Ahmet Öner confirms that two-times Olympic Gold Medallist Guillermo Rigondeaux has finally defected from Cuba , has arrived in Miami, Florida, and signing with Arena Box-Promotion.

“It’s true”, says Öner. “Our director of boxing operations in the USA, Luis DeCubas, has met Rigondeaux in Miami. More...

Arena CEO Ahmet Öner was very pleased with the spectacular performance of his rising Cuban stars Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis and Erislandy Lara at the season premiere of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” last night in front of 3,500 spectators at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts in Primm, Nevada.

“This was a great night of boxing”, stated Öner. “I think we presented high quality fights and we had a great crowd who turned the arena into a madhouse. I am pretty sure that everybody goes home very happy tonight.” More...

Cuban rising stars Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis and Erislandy Lara looked focused but also relaxed at the press conference for their fights on Friday at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts in Primm, Nevada.

“We had a great preparation, everything went according to plans”, stated “El Ciclon” Gamboa. “Of course, it is hard to work over Christmas and New Year’s but I love what I’m doing and I know that I have to make certain sacrifices to become champion of the world.” More...

Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis are ready to shine at the season premiere of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” on January 9 at Terrible’s Primm Valley Casino Resorts.

The 2004 Olympic Gold Medallists had no spare time over Christmas or New Year’s but have been working hard at their training camp in Primm, Nevada. More...

Heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis will face another tough test against former world title challenger Owen Beck on January 9 at the “Star of the Desert Arena” at Terrible’s Casino Resort in Primm, Nevada.

The US debut for 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist Solis will be featured on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”. “La Sombra” will put his WBC international champion title on the line when he is looking to score his 13th win in as many pro fights. More...

Arena CEO Ahmet Öner will present his next US show on January 9 in Primm, Nevada, which will be featured live on ESPN Friday Night Fights.

For the first time, Cuban Olympic 2004 Gold Medallists Yuriorkis Gamboa and Odlanier Solis will be on the same card in the United States as Solis will give his US debut.

Fast rising featherweight star Gamboa, 12-0 (10), returns to Primm after two successful appearances at “Terrible’s Casino and Resort” against Darling Jimenez and Al Seeger.

“This will be Gamboa’s final test before fighting for his first world title”, states promoter Ahmet Öner. At the 46th annual WBC Convention in Chengdu, China, Gamboa was nominated to face Elio Rojas for the interim world championship. More...

Odlanier Solis is new WBC International Heavyweight Champion. “La Sombra” beat Chauncy Welliver by TKO as referee Daniel Van de Wiele stopped the one-sided fight in round nine.

“Of course, Solis can still improve”, says promoter Ahmet Öner. “But it was a very convincing victory and he showed that he is capable of achieving great things. Winning the international title was an important step for him. Welliver is a tough guy; he had never been stopped before.” More...