Vitali Klitschko - Odlanier Solis: Premature Ending

The 19,000-strong crowd who gathered at The Lanxess Arena in Cologne may have felt a little short changed after they only got three minutes of action for a WBC Heavyweight Championship contest between Vitali Klitschko and Odlanier Solis.

In the opening round Klitschko used his long reach to try and push Solis - who had trimmed down a little to 249 and a half pounds - against the ropes.

Solis seemed to be happy to move backwards and stay around the edges, enabling him the chance to potentially jump in with counter combinations and also keep away from his opponent and try and box on his own terms.

Klitschko appeared to be pawing rather throwing heavy-handed jabs - although of course, this was the opening round of what was supposed to be a 12 round contest.

Again, while it's hard to gauge what might or might not have happened during the course of the fight, it was evident that Solis was impressively catching Klitschko, who looked a little open, with counters from his fast hands.

Then it was all over.

Klitschko connected with a hook to the top of Solis' head that appeared to rock him. His legs then buckled and he fell down, clutching his knee.

He rose unsteadily and referee waved the fight off.

Initially there were claims Solis had faked an injury and was actually reeling from the punch he sustained to the head rather than any knee injury. Fuel was added to the fire after Klitschko accused Solis of faking the injury.

However, medical records have since shown Solis suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, articular cartilage damage and meniscal tear in the right knee.

The ending was unsatisfactory. Diffferent interpretations could be taken from the fight. Solis showed glimpses of what he might have been able to do with his fast hands, while Klitschko might have used his reach to keep the smaller man from coming inside.

Klitshcko and Solis surely have unfinished business.

Vitali Klitschko - Odlanier Solis: Wasted Potential

This weekend a talented fighter with a wonderful amateur boxing pedigree will take to the ring and try and prise the WBC Heavyweight Championship from Vitali Klitschko.

Cuban Odlanier Solis - who beat David Haye and the exceptionally talented and legendary Felix Savon twice in the amateurs - stands in one corner. He has sharp hands and a nice fluid style.

In the opposite corner stands an upright and mechanical fighter from Ukraine - Vitali Klitschko. He can be stiff and at times ungainly but he's incredibly effective with 41 wins and only two defeats (one loss was due to an injury and the other due to cuts).

Here's the sting in the tail though - dedication.

Klitschko always comes in well conditioned. He fights with focus and control and while not necessarily being exciting he is brutally effective at shutting down his opponent with his huge reach, often simply only needing to exert a few jabs and straight rights to gain dominance.

Solis is a different kettle of fish. He has come into fights looking flabby and lethargic. Perhaps he's come to like a party of two? No matter what his excuse, it's a shame as he has the talent but not the dedication and he freely admits to not particularly enjoying boxing.

Solis' last fight was abysmal as he laboured to a poor, poor diqualification victory over 10 sorry rounds against 40-year-old Ray Austin - someone who was blown out in two rounds against Vitali's brother Wladimir, another world champion.

This week, at the press conference, Solis has not looked he has shed much weight in preparation for what could be a life-changing chance to become a heavyweight champion.

Of course the heavyweight division is so exciting as one punch can change everything, such is the power at that level. Undefeated Solis has 12 knockouts in 17 wins and if he comes in motivated - as he should be! - he has a chance of making things difficult for Klitschko.

However, while Vitali may be nine years older than Solis, at 39, I believe he will use his extensive experience to good advantage. He may wisely take a few rounds to eye up his prey and see what he's got. But after the halfway point expect Vitali to use his height and reach to start crashing in punishing straight lefts and rights to keep the 6ft 1in Solis at bay.

I think Solis - who had more than 200 amateur fights and won Olympic Gold in 2004 - will use his own experience to cling on and I would not be surprised to see Klitschko fail to score a knockout but instead win a dominant points decision.

* Postcript: I predicted a 12 round points victory for Klitschko and...Solis was stopped in the first round.

Close - but no cigar, as they say.

My observation of the opening round was that Solis' speed gave him a good chance of troubling Klitschko for as long as the fight continued. Klitschko meanwhile seemed to be able to keep Solis on the ropes for long periods - whether this was where Solis chose to be or was made to be, who knows?

As for the ending, despite some bloodthirsty fans calling Solis a quitter I feel this is grossly unfair. Medical reports showed he had damaged his knees. Whether the punch caused his knees to buckle and the injury to occur, or whether his knees buckled because of the injury in the first place, it's hard to tell.