By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The promoters of Cuban-born, former Olympic gold medalist, Odlanier Solis (pictured at left, throwing punch), and former WBA heavyweight champion, Nikolay Valuev, of Russia, are in talks to set up an eliminator bout that has been ordered by the WBC.
The winner would be the mandatory challenger for WBC champion, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 knockouts), of the Ukraine.
"This is a great honor for Odlanier and [Arena Promotions]. To become the [WBC's] no. 1 contender with only 16 pro fights means something," said Ahmet Öner, Solis' promoter with Arena Promotions. "Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraordinary qualities since turning pro in 2007."
Long range goals for Solis are either Vitali Klitschko or his brother, Wladimir, who owns the WBO, IBF and IBO crowns.
"I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today," said Ohner, "and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon."
The 29-year-old Solis is coming off of last month's third-round knockout over Costa Rica's 35-year-old Carl Davis Drummond (26-3, 20 KOs), earning his 12th knockout, and, his sixth consecutive stoppage to improve to 16-0.
A two-time titlist, the 36-year-old Valuev (50-2, 34 knockouts) is coming off of November's 12-round, unanimous decision loss to England's David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs), who dethroned him as champion.
Ohner and Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, who handle Solis, and Don King and Sauerland Promotions, who deal with Valuev, have until April 30 to make the fight and avoid a purse bid.
"I talked to King. King called me about that fight with Solis and Valuev, and I told him that we're ready to make the deal," said Arum. "And he has a partner, Sauerland Promotions, and, hopefully, we'll be able to get something done this week if Valuev is going to go ahead go into this eliminator."
The eliminator is desired by Solis' manager, Tony Gonzalez.
"A box-offf between Solis and Valuev, that's probably the route we'll wind up taking. That's really Ahmet and Bob's job to do," said Gonzalez. "They've got to pretty much square away whatever deal they can put together, and then, if not, then it goes to purse bids. At that point, we know the routine. So, whoever wins the purse bid is the one who takes the fight."
Valuev-Solis would be a match up of two, massive fighters, with Valuev having been the largest heavyweight champion in the sport's history.
The seven-foot Valuev weighed 316 pounds for his last bout, with the nearly 6-foot-2 Solis tipping the scales at 269.
"I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle. The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring," said Oner. "Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko's reign and on the way there, hopefully, become the first man to knock out the Russian giant."
Whether the fight would take place in America or Germany remains to be seen.
"The Klitschkos have a lot of name both in Europe and over here," said Gonzalez, "But if the American television, HBO, or Showtime hasn't shown too much interest in the Klitschkos, why would they show more interest in a Valuev-Solis fight than the would a Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers?"
Gonzalez was referring to the fact that Klitschko's recent 12th-round stoppage of Chambers was not televised in America, even as it was a big hit in Europe, and, particularly, the sold out, ESPRIT Arena, in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany where the fight took place.
Valuev and Solis have some loyalty in Germany as well, the latter, having fought many of his early bouts there.
"Valuev and Solis have built followings in Germany," said Gonzalez. "So all logic and reasoning lean toward the fight being in Germany, but crazier things have happened in our sport."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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