Scoop Malinowski: Vitali #Klitschko vs. Odlanier #Solis Analysis

by Scoop Malinowski
This could be the most dangerous fight for Vitali Klitschko since the Corrie Sanders fight – and it could be more complicated. Odlanier Solis is such a quality, talented and experienced fighter that he has been able to coast through the heavyweight division with his C game. Even though we haven’t seen Solis in 100% top condition in his recent TV fights, we have seen the flashes of brilliance and devastation he is capable of inflicting, like the one-punch KO of Monte Barrett. The Miami-based Cuban is strong as a bull, punches with speed, technique and accuracy. Solis clearly is a tremendous fighter, good enough to win Olympic gold and achieve the #1 WBC ranking, while not even working at full capacity.

I get the sense now that Solis will come in at the best condition of his career and will show an even higher level of excellence than we have ever seen from him as a professional. Solis has to know that this is what it will require to have a chance to defeat Vitali Klitschko.
Klitschko, astonishingly, is still at the top of his game at age 40, but there have been signs of minute decline. The inability to stop the game Shannon Briggs suggest a loss of full snap in the punches of Vitali. Emanuel Steward commented to me regarding the Briggs fight that he noticed that Vitali was not able to put his combinations together as he has in the past. Steward expressed concerns for Vitali about this fight and the different “mental energy” Solis will bring, unlike the recent challengers who competed more like sparring partners looking for a payday. But of course, that is a credit to Vitali and his skills, that he is able to tame and control his opponents in such a manner.
But this time, there is a suspicion that Solis is different from the rest. He is a winner, a champion, who knows how to figure his way out of adversity and overcome it. You have to think Solis will have more ideas and strategies to try to use to solve the seemingly unbeatable style of Vitali Klitschko.
It’s easy to imagine Vitali boxing and jabbing and dissecting and controling the smaller Solis like he has done so many times with other physically disadvantaged challengers. But if any man can change that pattern it’s the explosive and powerful Solis. One perfect punch in the blink of an eye, or a slight loss of reflex, can instantly put Vitali into a position he is unaccustomed to. And then it could be total chaos.
A similar fight that comes to mind was the second round of Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko in 2003, when the Vitali right hand staggered Lewis. Until that punch, Lewis had been comfortably dominating the heavyweight division, but that one single Vitali right hand changed everything.
Solis will have to connect that one punch against Vitali if he is to have his chance to make history and end the reign of Vitali Klitschko. Can he? Yes. Will he? I just don’t know.
Scoop Malinowski is the author “Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle”