Arena Boxing: Solis, Gamboa Ready For World Title Fights Later This Month

On March 19th 2004 Olympic gold medalist Odlanier “La Sombra” Solis wants to become the first ever Cuban professional heavyweight champion against WBC titlist Vitali Klitschko at Lanxess-Arena in Cologne, Germany. Only one week later, on March 26th, Yuriorkis Gamboa defends his WBA and IBF championships against Jorge Solis from Mexico.

Cuban heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis is currently preparing for his first title shot in Spain. After four weeks of high altitude training in the Sierra Nevada team Solis returned to sea level this weekend for the last two weeks of sparring.

“So far the camp has been excellent”, says coach Pedro Luis Diaz Benitez. “We had perfect conditions in the mountains and laid the foundation for Solis to show up in great physical shape. Now we are working on the technical and tactical fine tuning.

“Vitali Klitschko has no idea what’s coming for him. He is a great champion but he will face his successor on March 19th in Cologne. Everybody who thinks that this is just another fight and just another easy win for Klitschko is in for a surprise.”

The WBC heavyweight championship bout from Cologne will be produced and broadcasted live by RTL in Germany and on Epix in the USA.

Solis’ former teammate and fellow 2004 Olympic champion Yuriorkis Gamboa is getting ready for his first appearance as unified world champion after adding the vacant IBF title to his WBA belt last September by outclassing Orlando Salido. Now Gamboa takes on Jorge Solis at the famous “Boardwalk Hall” in Atlantic City.

The 31-year-old “Coloradito” has won 40 of his 45 pro-fights. His last loss was a close decision to Cristobal Cruz in July 2009. After that bout Solis has won three in a row and won the interim WBA super featherweight championship.

“I will surely not underestimate any opponent”, says “El Ciclon” Gamboa. “I am very proud that I have already won two world titles within only four years of my professional career but I also know that I have to keep on working hard in order to improve myself every day. My goal is to prove that I am the best boxer in the world. To do so I have to beat every opponent who comes my way.”

Adds promoter Ahmet Oner, “There are no easy fights for Gamboa at this stage of his career. Solis is a reigning world champion, he has lots of experience, he has been in the ring with the best boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao, back in 2007 and he will certainly come to Atlantic City to win this fight. He is three inches taller than Gamboa and he will try to use his height and reach advantage. I am sure that this will be a very entertaining and exciting fight.”

HBO will cover the featherweight championship between Gamboa and Solis from Atlantic City on “Boxing After Dark”, Pay-TV network Sky will broadcast the show live in Germany.