Vitali Klitschko promises to KO unbeaten Solis

WBC titleholder Vitali Klitschko, left, and Cuban Odlanier Solis of Cuba, seen Monday, square off in a rare matchup of Olympic heavyweight champions. (Martin Meissner/Associated Press)

Former Olympic champion Odlanier Solis challenges WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in Cologne on Saturday with an unbeaten record and his best physical shape in years.


Solis is nine years younger than 39-year-old Klitschko, whose record is 41-2, with 38 knockouts.
"My boxer is at the ideal weight to beat Vitali Klitschko. No more, no less. Just enough," Solis trainer Pedro Luis Diaz said.


Solis, also a three-time amateur world champ, has struggled with weight problems since he defected from Cuba in December 2006.


Diaz said it was different this time.


"Solis's preparation has been designed and prepared, down to the smallest detail," he said. "Vitali does not know what kind of trouble he is in for. Odlanier is in the prime of his career."


Solis weighed in at 246.5 pounds to 249 for Klitschko on Friday.


The 2004 Olympic champion has a 17-0 record, with 12 KOs. But Solis also gives away 15 centimetres (six inches) in height to the Ukrainian champion.


"Solis is one of the strongest opponents in my career," Klitschko said.

Klitschko's only previous experience with an Olympic champion was a defeat against Lennox Lewis in 2003.


"We've reviewed Vitali's opponents over the years and saw that none of them have the quality of Solis," Diaz said. "Not in speed nor movement, nor the boxing IQ. On Saturday there will be a surprise."


The champion did not seem worried.


"I can fight 12 rounds at a high tempo but the fight won't last 12 rounds," Klitschko said. "There are good amateurs from Cuba but it's different in the professional game."


Solis was just as confident of winning the fight.


"I'll win in the 12th, maybe earlier. I'll win in any case," Solis said.


Solis's promoter Ahmet Oner said his fighter was interested in the title and not the money, "unlike most of the recent opponents of the Klitschko brothers."


"Solis knows this is the chance of a lifetime," Oner said.

Vitali's younger brother Wladimir, the IBF and WBO champ, fights WBA belt-holder David Haye in June or July.


Source: http://www.cbc.ca