Through out the 1950 Cuba was undergoing their Revolution, in the early 1960’s they imposed an embargo that is still in operation today with America. Since those days they have developed the world’s top amateur Boxers, we only got to see them unfortunately every 4 years at the Olympics. The odd one got out and turned professional like Joel Casamayor who went on to become a 2 weight world champion, nothing else of note made an impact on the pro scene. That was until late in 2006 when it was revealed that three 2004 Olympic Gold medallist’s had defected whilst in a training camp in Venezuela. One of those was Heavyweight Odlanier Solis who’s quickly torn his way through sixteen opponents knocking out twelve of them. Tomorrow Solis 30, will take on Ray Austin 28-4-4(18) in Miami in a WBC title eliminator, the winner becoming Vitali Klitscko’s mandatory challenger, assured of a shot in 2011.
Hello Odlanier, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – You are fighting Ray Austin and the winner becomes Vitali Klitschko’s WBC mandatory. What are your thoughts on Austin and this fight?
Odlanier Solis – My thoughts are very simple: I will blow away Ray Austin and then go on, beat Vitali Klitschko and finally become the first ever Cuban heavyweight champion of the world. I have been waiting for a long time to get my hands on Klitschko who decide to run away and hide as long as he could. I thank the WBC and my promoter Ahmet Oener for giving me the chance to finally fight for the world title. I know that I have to beat Austin to get there so that’s what I’m gonna do on Friday in Miami.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your training for this fight? Where has it been, how has it gone & who have you sparred with?
Odlanier Solis – I had a good training camp in Miami. I sparred with a young German fighter named Erkan Teper who is very fast and moves well. I also had some more seasoned and experienced partners like Larry Donald. Unfortunately, he had to return home after a couple of days because I hit him too hard. But I give him props for coming to Miami to work with me. We had some other guys there as well. The camp was alright and I thank my coach Pedro Luis Diaz and all the other people around like Ahmet and Jose Perez who organized everything perfectly.
Anson Wainwright – Obviously you want to fight one of the Klitschko’s in 2011, what do you think of both of them?
Odlanier Solis – Honestly, I don’t care about them. I don’t care about any of my opponents. I know that I am the best heavyweight fighter in the world today and I also know that I only have to focus on myself and what I do in the ring. When I step into the ring and fight my own fight it doesn’t matter who stands in the opposite corner. I’ll simply run over every opponent who faces me.
Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about team Solis, who is your trainer, manager & promoter? Also what gym do you train at most of the time?
Odlanier Solis – As I said before, my trainer is Pedro Luis Diaz. He is a very experienced coach and I have known him for a long time. He was our national team coach back home in Cuba. In the last years he also made himself a name at the pros and I cannot imagine a better trainer. He organizes everything for me and I thank him for all the hard work and effort. Ahmet Oener is my promoter since I started my professional career. He brought me to where I am right now. Before I even signed with him he told me that I would become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. We’re both on the same page on that and we are ready to go all the way together. Then there is Jose Perez who is taking care of a lot of things for me. He is working closely with Ahmet. Those are the most important people around me right now. I live and train in Miami.
Anson Wainwright – What was it like growing up in Havana as a kid and how did you first get involved in Boxing?
Odlanier Solis – I started boxing when I was quite young. We didn’t have many different choices in Cuba. If you wanted to mean something and be somebody you had to get involved in sports. When I first entered a boxing gym the coaches immediately told me that this is what I was born to do. They saw something special and made me work hard to exploit my talent in the best possible way. So I got hooked to it.
Anson Wainwright – You had a fantastic amateur career, you won gold in the 2004 Olympics and won the World Championships three times. Can you tell us about some of your other amateur credentials? What current pro’s did you fight and how did you do? Also what was your record?
Odlanier Solis – It would be far easier if you asked me who I didn’t beat… I basically won every title there was to win and never lost an important tournament. I am a seven-time Cuban national champion, three-time Pan-American champion, winner of the World Cup and the Nation’s Cup, Junior World Champion… what else do you want to know? I beat guys like Sultan Ibragimov, Alexander Alexeev, David Haye… and whoever entered the ring with me.
Anson Wainwright – In the 2001 World Championship final you stopped current WBA champion David Haye. Can you tell us about that fight? did you drop him etc?
Odlanier Solis – Haye was a decent fighter. I remember that he connected with a nice uppercut early in the fight. He provoked me with that. But then I took control, did what I have to do and gave him the beating of his lifetime. The referee stepped in and prevented him from getting knocked out.
Anson Wainwright – You also beat Felix Savon two out of three. He is widely thought of as one of the Greatest Heavyweights to ever fight. Tell us about those fights? How good was he?
Odlanier Solis – Savon is a legend. Of course, it was a special thing for me to beat him. But then again he is just another name on the list. I know what I have to do in the ring. And I do it in the best possible ways. I am not afraid of big names and the respect I feel for a person will never stop me from beating up my opponent when we face in the ring. Once I step to the ropes I just do what I have to do. That’s all.
Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? what are your hobbies & Interests?
Odlanier Solis – I hang around with my friends and family a lot. I am rather a calm guy. Oh, and I love fishing.
Anson Wainwright – I’m sure you’ve heard it said many times but some people have asked about your weight. Last time you fought at 268. Your only 6’1, what is your answer to that? Presumably you still feel in great condition?
Odlanier Solis – I don’t understand why people are worrying about my weight so much. To me the most important thing is how I feel and how I move in the ring. I am a heavyweight fighter so I don’t have to enter the ring at a certain limit. As long as I got the power to go twelve, fifteen or even thirty rounds I don’t care how much I’m carrying around. Just look at me fighting and tell me afterwards if I’m carrying too much weight and if I look to be in shape or not. My coach always says: At the amateurs my body looked better on photos but now I have more punching power. Amateur boxing and professional boxing are too different things. You need more power at the pros because every shot can be decisive. I trust in my team and in my ability and I believe that now I am bringing the full package: Speed, technique, stamina and power. Just watch me fight and ask that same question again after that fight.
Anson Wainwright – Several other Cuban Heavyweights have turned pro since you have including Mike Perez, Luis Ortiz, Yasnay Consuegra etc what are your thoughts on those guys?
Odlanier Solis – I don’t care about other fighters. When I meet them I chat with them but I don’t talk about boxing. It doesn’t matter to me. The guys you mentioned were looking up to me when I was the amateur champion. I fought Luis Ortiz a couple of times at the amateurs and beat him at will. The other two were still too young. I think I’m sort of an idol for them. I’m happy for them that they want to try their luck at the pros but they won’t have any chance to win a title – at least not as long as I am around…
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans who are looking forward to seeing you in action against Ray Austin?
Odlanier Solis – Watch the fight, enjoy the show and support me on my way to finally ending the reign of the Klitschkos!
Thanks for your time “La Sombre”
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Midweek Musings – Word is Pacquiao will now fight on 7 May and not as originally thought 16 April, he’ll be in with one of Berto, Mosley or Marquez…Top Rank has shows on 19 February (Montiel-Donaire) & 26 February, 12 March (Cotto-TBA), 19 March (Lopez-TBA) & now the Pacquiao card, also mentioned is a possible early June showdown between JuanMa & Gamboa if both win interim fights, that looks a pretty solid first half of the year for them…No such line up as yet from Golden Boy, I look forward to seeing them fill there dance cards in the coming weeks…On 18 February Fernando Guerrero will take on Saul Roman on ESPN in his hometown of Salisbury, Maryland where he’s fiercely popular…I’m looking forward to seeing Jean Pascal – Bernard Hopkins this weekend. There’s lots of intrigue in this fight, will youth prevail or will the old man once again spring the surprise? He couldn’t could he?…Over the past month we’ve had some cracking fights Marquez-Katsidis, Soto-Antillon & Khan-Maidana this weekend in Germany we could get our fourth in as many weeks with Marco Huck against Denis Lebedev, it pits two heavy handed Cruiserweights who don’t like to take a backward step, unless someone goes to sleep early it looks like a barnburner…Finally congratulations to World ranked Lightweight Brandon Rios, his wife gave birth on the 2 December to a little girl, Mia Guadalupe who weighed 6.1, he says he’ll be back at the Palms in Las Vegas on 26 February against one of the Miguel’s either Acosta for the WBA title or Vazquez for the IBF crown.
If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk
Follow all the action live as Deontay Wilder defends the WBC Heavyweight title against Chris aArreola. The action begins at 8 PM with a Jr. Middleweight bout between Erickson Lubin taking on Ivan Montero. The co-feature will pit Sammy Vasquez Jr and Felix Diaz in a welterweight bout. After Wilder – Arreola, stick around for bonus action as Gerald Washington takes on former world title challenger Ray Austin in a heavyweight bout, former world champion Vic Darchinyan battles Enrique Quevedo in a super bntamweight tilt and welterweights Jamal James and Wale Omotoso do battle.
