Cuba’s Solis Meets Klitschko for Title

HAVANA TIMES, March 18 — The 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Odlanier Solis of Cuba puts his perfect record in professional boxing on the line Saturday in Cologne, Germany in a bout against World Heavyweight Champion Vitali Kliotschko, 39, of the Ukraine.

Solis, 30, also a winner of three world amateur titles and a world boxing cup, during his amateur days boxing for Cuba, began his professional career in 2007 after leaving the island.

His record stands at 17-0 with 12 knockouts but boxing experts note that he has yet to face anywhere near the likes of Kliotschko, a 39 year-old veteran with a 41-2 record including a remarkable 38 knockouts.

The careers of athletes who chose to leave Cuba to undertake professional sports, being them boxers or baseball, volleyball or soccer players etc., are not reported on in any Cuban media.