14 years ago
Vitali Klitschko vs Odlanier Solis
Date: 19th March 2011
Venue: Lanxess-Arena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, GermanyTitle: WBC World Heavyweight Title
Promoter: Tom Loeffler & Ahmet Oener
Tv: RTL
Vitali Klitschko
(
41
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2
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0
)
Weight: 247¼ lbs
Odlanier Solis
(
17
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0
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0
)
Weight: 246¾ lbs
On March 19, 2011, in Cologne, Germany, Vitali Klitschko defended his WBC heavyweight title against Odlanier Solis in a bout that promised to be a compelling matchup between The Ring Magazine's No. 1 heavyweight contender, Klitschko, and the No. 10 contender, Solis. Solis, an Olympic gold medalist, presented a fresh challenge for Klitschko. Still, the fight ended abruptly in the first round, marking a controversial and anticlimactic end to the highly anticipated fight.
Leading up to the fight, Solis was seen as a 4 to 1 betting underdog despite coming into the fight in the best shape of his professional career, weighing in at 246.75 lbs, significantly lighter than his previous bout. On the other hand, Klitschko was expected to dominate, given his size advantage and renowned punching power. The fighters' purses were significant, with Klitschko reportedly earning $15 million and Solis receiving $1.8 million.
The fight began with both fighters showcasing their skills. Klitschko used his jab and size advantage effectively, while Solis displayed quick hands, landing a notable right hand that caught Klitschko's attention. However, the competitive nature of the bout was short-lived. Towards the end of the first round, Klitschko landed a right hand on Solis' head, which didn't appear to hurt Solis initially. However, as Solis stepped back, he lost his footing and went down, indicating a problem with his right knee rather than any damage from the punch.
The situation quickly escalated as Solis struggled to stand, clearly hampered by his knee injury. The referee, witnessing Solis' inability to move properly, called off the fight, awarding Klitschko a victory by technical knockout. This conclusion disappointed many spectators and fans, as the fight had barely begun before being halted due to Solis' unfortunate injury.
Further examination revealed that Solis had suffered tears to his anterior cruciate ligament and external meniscus, along with cartilage damage in his right knee. Reports suggested that Solis and his team were aware of issues with his knee prior to the fight but chose to proceed. However, these claims were disputed by Solis' camp, which denied any pre-fight knowledge of the injury.
The fight drew an average of 10.98 million viewers in Germany, indicating significant interest in the matchup. Despite the anticipation, Solis' knee injury abruptly ended the bout, leaving the boxing community with more questions than answers regarding the Cuban fighter's potential to challenge for the heavyweight title.
The fight's conclusion did little to enhance Klitschko's legacy, as the controversy surrounding Solis' injury overshadowed the victory. For Solis, the bout represented a missed opportunity to prove himself on the world stage against one of the heavyweight division's dominant figures. The fight's aftermath saw Klitschko continuing his reign in the heavyweight division, while Solis faced a challenging road to recovery and an uncertain future in the sport.
Vitali Klitschko vs Odlanier Solis on YouTube
