Odlanier Solis and Michel Lopez

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 20 Jul 2005, 17:57

What is the latest on the +91kg situation in the Cuban team? I think it's a fairly open secret that the Cubans would prefer a medal winner like Solis over a continual also-ran in Lopez, but as I understand it Solis has yet to beat Lopez at +91. I'm pretty sure the same situation arose when they wanted Alexis Rubalcaba to voluntarily retire after Sydney - the guy never won anything, but always came through as Cuba's +91 entrant. But is Solis can't beat Lopez, how will he beat the world's best at the weight?

Hesketh Vampire · Post by **Hesketh Vampire** » 21 Jul 2005, 17:52

C'mon, somebody must know.

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 22 Jul 2005, 00:28

I think it's logic that they want to give Solis a shot. Michel has had many chances and hasn't had much success. It will probably take some time for Solis to adapt to his new weight but it's worth a try. Solis lost to the best russian by one point - in Moscow.

It has always been like that in Cuba. Many times the national champion wasn't chosen because there was another one with better international results. Solis had to wait for his turn despite beating Felix Savon twice. Maikro Romero always beat Rogelio Marcelo, Alfredo Duvergel beat both Juan Carlos Lemus and Ariel Hernandez but didn't go to the Barcelona Olympics, Lemus and Hernandez won gold. Lorenzo Aragon always won at home beating Kindelan, Arnaldo Mesa, Julio Gonzalez, etc but never was chosen.
Rubalcaba failed at two Olympics - there was no point to insist with him.