BoxRec

Cuban heavyweight Odlanier Solis started his bid to succeed the great Felix Savon today with a narrow win over his main rival for the Olympic gold, Russian Alexander Alekseev.
Solis has been Cuba's number one in the showcase division since Savon, now a member of the Cuban coaching team, retired after winning his third Olympic gold in Sydney four years ago.
The 24-year-old, a mobile, clever boxer in the great Cuban tradition, faced a strong challenge from Alekseev, who was narrowly beaten by Solis in the final of last year's world championships.
But Solis got home on a 24-21 decision.
"The biggest hurdle was Alekseev and I got over it," said Solis. "My coach ordered me to maintain the points difference in the fourth round and that's why I chose a defensive strategy," he added.
"It's unfortunate for the Russian that we met in the first round. My only aim is the gold medal."

Looking like the gold medal winner sure but not looking good by his standards, I didn't think.

Solis, incidentally, stopped Haye in the heavyweight final of the 2001 world championships in Dublin. It was a fight Haye could and should have won. But he ran out of ideas very quickly when Solis took his best shot and fought back. Carl Thompson has a history of doing likewise to opponents.

I think if Haye had fought Solis today he'd have won big.

bennie wrote: Carl Thompson has a history of doing likewise to opponents.

"A history" is all it will be when Haye gets to him.

Good luck Solis.

Haye was knackered going into that fight and had settled for silver I believe.... the way he nearly KO'd the cuban his a testament to his punch power.... you seldom see anyone "go" like that in elite amateur boxing with the headguards etc

Haye is definately a fast starter and it is clear that anyway who can hang tough may be able to get to him late..... dont think Carl is the man for the job though...

still wondering why the russians didnt go with Romanchuk

Matchfixer wrote:

bennie wrote: Carl Thompson has a history of doing likewise to opponents.

"A history" is all it will be when Haye gets to him.

At least Carl's got a history. David Haye hasn't fought anyone to have a history, unless you regard Arthur Williams as someone. The American was recently floored and outpointed by a journeyman.

Alekseev beat Romanchuk in the russian championships

I was watching the boxing on interactive, and the commentators were meant to be off air, but you could still hear what they were saying. Anyway, I heard Jim Neilly say about the heavyweight division "I think Solis'll piss it" (referring to Cuban star odlandier solis fonte) it was quite funny coming from the usually fence sitting commentator.

There was more that was said as it was like a convo between him and Woodhall, buti never heard it. Did anyone else hear this?

I remember that Haye-Solis fight, didn't Haye stagger his man with an uppercut or something and Solis took an eight count? Or was that against someone else?

Southpaw Stylist wrote:I was watching the boxing on interactive, and the commentators were meant to be off air, but you could still hear what they were saying. Anyway, I heard Jim Neilly say about the heavyweight division "I think Solis'll piss it" (referring to Cuban star odlandier solis fonte) it was quite funny coming from the usually fence sitting commentator.

There was more that was said as it was like a convo between him and Woodhall, buti never heard it. Did anyone else hear this?

I heard Neilly confirm the pronounciation of "Aaragon" the other day, the Cuban. Fair enough I suppose.
The best ever was when Howard Cosell was being told who had won the boxing finals of the Pan-American Games finals in the 70's - seconds before the winners were made official. Trouble is, American-TV viewers could hear Cosell being tipped off and then Cosell would say, "I think so-and-so has done enough to get this."

Haye would have finished Solis if not for that standing count.

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Haye would have finished Solis if not for that standing count.

Did Solis floor Haye?

bennie wrote:

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Haye would have finished Solis if not for that standing count.

Did Solis floor Haye?

It was a while ago, I think Haye caught Solis with a big uppercut early that badly stunned him, then the ref just jumped in and gave a standing count, I think he would have done him if not for that count. I don't think Haye went down, I think it was part exhaustion and some good punches landed, he kind of gave up in the next round and settled for the silver but he came very close.

bennie wrote:

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Haye would have finished Solis if not for that standing count.

Did Solis floor Haye?

An exhausted Haye was stopped on his feet. I doubt he would've beaten Solis at any point during the tournament.

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Haye would have finished Solis if not for that standing count.

In amateur boxing, one big shot means the ref gives you a standing count. IF is the biggest two letter word in the dictionary.

Yeah I know, but Solis was definately badly stunned and with Haye's power he would have done well to survive the onslaught that would have followed.

Southpaw Stylist wrote:I was watching the boxing on interactive, and the commentators were meant to be off air, but you could still hear what they were saying. Anyway, I heard Jim Neilly say about the heavyweight division "I think Solis'll piss it" (referring to Cuban star odlandier solis fonte) it was quite funny coming from the usually fence sitting commentator.

There was more that was said as it was like a convo between him and Woodhall, buti never heard it. Did anyone else hear this?

I heard it. It was quite funny really. If only the mics were a bit closer.

Southpaw Stylist wrote:

Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Haye would have finished Solis if not for that standing count.

In amateur boxing, one big shot means the ref gives you a standing count. IF is the biggest two letter word in the dictionary.

Amateur boxing sucks bigtime. Someone gets a standing count, and you don't even get any extra points for it. What is it you get for a knockdown, two extra points is it, I forget now.

I find amateur boxing interesting because you get a glimpse of the future, but the actual contests, particularly at olympic level are so far removed from the pro game now that I find them pretty poor on the whole. There was a great scrap the other night though with that hungarian and mexican. In the pros, I reckon the mexican would have owned him.

must admit i agree, I can only get interested when Brits are involved to be honest, which is pretty limited this year!