They did it again. Those damn Klitschko`s got Me again. Not having seen either Klitschko brother fight in a while because no one in their right mind wanted to pay to televise a Klitschko fight, let alone make it a Pay Per View because no one in their right mind would pay to watch it, I was still intrigued to hear that the Epix network would carry the fight live from Germany. Vitali Klitschko (42-2 39 Ko`s) the WBC Heavyweight Champion was set to take on Cuban amateur standout and Olympic Gold medallist Odlanier Solis (17-1 12 Ko`s) for the strap. I should`ve known this was going to be a disaster judging from the undercard where TV analysts for MSG and Epix, Sam Rosen, Tony Paige and Lennox Lewis continued poking fun at one fighters belly hanging over his beltline.
The fight lasted one round, in fact this article will be longer and more entertaining had the fight even gone 6 or 7 rounds. It was a feeling out round for both fighters, Klitschko controlled the tempo using His jab but not landing anything meaningful. Solis actually looked comfortable and landed a few overhand rights and a left hook. Klitschko was probably going to win the round on the scorecards by just being busier, but it could have gone either way. With about 8 seconds left in the round Solis blocked a few punches from Klitschko as he backed up and it seemed as if his right knee gave out. Because Klitschko threw a right hand that glazed the gloves of Solis and he went down a second later, it was ruled a knockdown. Solis immediately grabbed for his right knee, then pulled himself up using the ropes to beat the referee`s count but the fight was stopped. Referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia called the bout to a halt and just like that we have another Klitschko catastrophe. Was Solis` knee injured during the fight? Before the fight? I`m sure we will never know.
I can`t blame Vitali Klitschko, but it seems since He and His brother have been atop the Heavyweight division it has been disappointment after disappointment. They are the single most reason that boxing is looked upon as a dying sport. No matter what Mayweather and Pacquiao or anyone else relevant does, it will always be the Heavyweights that carry the sport. I long for the day when the Klitschko`s are gone and perhaps some young, confident, maybe even obnoxious kid comes along and raises hell where it needs to be raised the most. David Haye, you`re on deck.
Joey Santana can be reached at: theboxingkidd@verizon.net
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