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Odlanier Solis

Odlanier Solis Profile Image
  • Nickname: La Sombra
  • Date of Birth: 5th April 1980 (44 years old)
  • Retired: 17th September 2016 (Career length: 9 years 4 months)
  • Status: Retired
  • Nationality: Cuba Flag Cuba
  • Birthplace: Havana, Cuba Flag Havana, Cuba
  • Residence: North Miami, Florida, USA Flag North Miami, Florida, USA
  • Division: Heavyweight
  • Reach: 79.1"
  • Height: 6ft 2"
  • Stance: Orthodox
  • BoxRec: Odlanier Solis
  • Debut: 27th April 2007

Biography

Odlanier Solís Fonte, born on April 5, 1980, in Havana, Cuba, is a former professional boxer who competed from the early 2000s until 2015. He once challenged for the WBC heavyweight title in 2011 and was a top-rated contender in the heavyweight division. Before turning professional, Solís had an illustrious amateur career, highlighted by a gold medal win at the 2004 Olympics and three consecutive gold medals at the World Championships in 2001, 2003, and 2005.

Solís first caught international attention in 1998, when he won titles at the Pan American Juniors championship in Toluca and the Juniors World Championship in Buenos Aires. In 1999, he defeated the legendary Félix Savón to clinch the Cuban championship, a victory he repeated in one of their subsequent meetings.
Transitioning to the super heavyweight division in 2005, Solís found immediate success despite a final loss to Michel López Núñez. Throughout his amateur tenure, Solís compiled a record of 227 wins against 14 losses, never falling at any significant event (World Championships, Olympics). His amateur career was distinguished by notable victories over high-profile boxers like Felix Savón, Sultan Ibragimov, and David Haye.

In December 2006, Solís defected from the Cuban national team alongside fellow Olympians Yan Barthelemí Varela and Yuriorkis Gamboa Toledano. Settling in Germany, he transitioned to the professional ranks in 2007 under the promotion of German-based First Artist. He made a remarkable professional debut, showcasing his power and technical skill by quickly dispatching veteran Andreas Sidon.

Solís's career trajectory set him up for a title challenge against WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko in March 2011. Despite a promising start to the bout, an unfortunate injury to his right knee in the first round led to a TKO loss, marking a pivotal moment in his career. The injury, later revealed to be torn to his anterior cruciate ligament and external meniscus, significantly impacted his professional momentum.

After recovering from knee surgery, Solís attempted a comeback, securing victories over Konstantin Airich and Leif Larsen. However, his career faced setbacks, with two consecutive losses to veteran Tony Thompson in 2015. These defeats marked a decline in his professional boxing career, and Solís faced challenges in regaining his former prominence in the heavyweight division.