Arena Boxing: Solis Confident As Klitschko Shows Respect

Maybe Odlanier Solis’ first “shots“ landed long before his WBC heavyweight championship fight against Vitali Klitschko even started.

In the last couple of weeks the Cuban mandatory challenger repeatedly criticized Klitschko’s lack of respect. At today’s first press conference for the March 19th showdown at Germany’s biggest indoor arena (Lanxess Arena) in Cologne Vitali actually showed a lot of respect for his next opponent.

“I have fought a lot of strong opponents but I have never been in the ring with an Olympic gold medallist“, said Klitschko. “I expect a very tough and close fight against a very talented young boxer who comes to take the belt from me. I won’t let that happen though. I will show why I am the champion and defend my title.“

Solis didn’t look too impressed by the champion’s superior physique (Klitschko is 6 inches taller than his challenger). When asked how he feels going into the toughest fight of his profesional career so far against a true champion, “La Sombra“ just smiled and asked: “What makes you think that this will be my toughest fight?

“Can you tell me what makes a boxer a strong or superior boxer? So far all guys I fought had two arms and two legs. I would understand your question if I would fight an opponent with three fists for the first time…“ At least at the press conference Klitschko didn’t show up with a third arm.

When promoter Ahmet Oner entered the stage he took the chance to attack the Klitschko management again. “Usually the team of the challenger starts with thanking the champion’s team for the opportunity“, Oner said. “I’m sorry that we can’t do it this way this time.

“The Klitschkos did everything they could to avoid this fight. They tried to sneak out of it over and over again. So we don’t thank them. We had to work very hard to get to this point and we deserved this chance. I want to thank the WBC and president Jose Sulaiman and, of course, I thank RTL because they kept the ‘Klitschko legend’ alive over the last years even though they only fought tomato cans in terribly boring snoozers.

“We will indemnify the German boxing fans for all the sh*tty Klitschko fights they had to endure over the years with one of the greatest heavyweight bouts ever. To me this is history in the making. It is the first time in history that a Cuban A class heavyweight has left the country to fight for the world championship as a pro.

“Boxing fans will always argue how Ali would have looked against Stevenson and what would have happened if Tyson and Savon would have fought in their primes. In this generation for the first time we have the chance to see what happens when the best Cuban heavyweight fights the best heavyweight of the rest of the world. I put my money on Cuba.“