Jamie McDonnell targets Rau'shee Warren after Liborio Solis

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jamie McDonnell has not given up on fighting Rau'shee Warren, who he expects to retain his world title Friday.

Warren (14-1, 4 KOs) defends his WBA bantamweight belt against Kazakhstan's Zhanat Zhakiyanov (26-1, 18 KOs) at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.

McDonnell told ESPN.

"Warren will be too fast and too slick. He will box his head off and win on points, I think.

"Zhakiyanov has Ricky Hatton behind him and I think it will be a good test for Warren because he can bang, although he's a bit slow on his feet. Warren was a good amateur and just has too much about him."

Briton McDonnell (29-2-1, 13 KOs), 30, holds a less prestigious version of the WBA title than Warren and was disappointed they did not meet last year.

Instead, McDonnell fought Venezuelan Liborio Solis (25-5-1, 11 KOs) and seemed fortunate to receive a unanimous points decision in a fifth defence of his secondary WBA title.

The WBA this week ordered McDonnell to face Solis again after a protest from Solis' camp about the decision.

McDonnell added: "I've got to get the Solis rematch out the way first, but I would love to fight Rau'shee Warren or the WBC champion, Shinsuke Yamanaka, this year.

"I think we're the top three in the division and I want to prove I'm the best bantamweight in the world. Warren is good name and I would love that fight.

"But my career has gone backwards, to be fair. Warren says he doesn't want to come out of America, so I fought Solis and I underestimated him. I never felt in danger against him, but afterwards I saw all the criticism and it has been a kick up the backside.

"You will see a different me next time. The Warren fight hasn't happened, even though the WBA ordered it, but hopefully it gets made later this year. First, I have to show everyone I'm better than Solis, though."

Promotional parties for McDonnell and Solis are in negotiations about staging the fight and if they cannot reach agreement within 30 days, there will be a purse bid.

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id ... orio-solis

[Horse]

Link?

[gilgamesh]

I'd favor McDonnell in that matchup though both he and Warren are almost always in very close fights. That being said. I think Zhanat Zhakiyanov is going to beat Rau'shee Warren tomorrow night.

[Autobarn]

Article is somewhat unkind to McDonnell, who has beaten title holders of rival organisations Kameda (twice, in America) and Hall. As well as champs of different weights Solis (never lost his super fly title in the ring) and Ceja (won and lost a super bantam title in fights with Hugo Ruiz).

Glad McDonnell is having the rematch with Solis. Will be another belter and could decide a fierce little rivalry. Hoping to see Jamie land the left hook to the head more second time around, as this shot did damage to Solis late in their Monte Carlo fight.

[Autobarn]

McDonnell v Solis II location, date and venue?

Anyone have an idea?

[Andrew]

McDonnell v Solis II location, date and venue?

Anyone have an idea?

I'll take a punt at the AJ v Wlad undercard.

It's a good fight for that.

[Autobarn]

So Warren lost.

Things keep getting interesting.

Could they get Zhakiyanov to come over here? (Or will he be locked into rematching Warren just as McDonnell is with Solis?)

[Andrew]

So Warren lost.

Things keep getting interesting.

Could they get Zhakiyanov to come over here? (Or will he be locked into rematching Warren just as McDonnell is with Solis?)

Yeah Zhanat will fight here no problem ( Ricky Hatton trains him ) it's good when a fighter like that wins a world title because they will fight anywhere.

He is really relentless I think he will McDonnell now based on the Solis fight, Jamie got pushed back way to easily

[crusader]

Zhanat must have one of the most inaccurate Boxrec height listings I've seen...dude is actually like 5'2.5.

[Autobarn]

So Warren lost.

Things keep getting interesting.

Could they get Zhakiyanov to come over here? (Or will he be locked into rematching Warren just as McDonnell is with Solis?)

Yeah Zhanat will fight here no problem ( Ricky Hatton trains him ) it's good when a fighter like that wins a world title because they will fight anywhere.

He is really relentless I think he will McDonnell now based on the Solis fight, Jamie got pushed back way to easily

Still think Jamie beat Solis, a very experienced and tough fighter, and will do so more convincingly.

Not seen the Kazakh but I think Yamanaka is the main threat.

[Andrew]

So Warren lost.

Things keep getting interesting.

Could they get Zhakiyanov to come over here? (Or will he be locked into rematching Warren just as McDonnell is with Solis?)

Yeah Zhanat will fight here no problem ( Ricky Hatton trains him ) it's good when a fighter like that wins a world title because they will fight anywhere.

He is really relentless I think he will McDonnell now based on the Solis fight, Jamie got pushed back way to easily

Still think Jamie beat Solis, a very experienced and tough fighter, and will do so more convincingly.

Not seen the Kazakh but I think Yamanaka is the main threat.

I just find it hard to see how Solis won but then again I've always been vocal how Kell Brook didn't deserve the verdict against Porter.

Yamanaka knocks Jamie out now. He may not have a couple of years ago. Yamanaka may have declined but Jamie would not be able to avoid the killer straight left hand.