• Boxing

Haye fears Solis will KO Vitali

ESPN staff
March 16, 2011

Vitali Klitschko will be powerless to stop Odlanier Solis if the Cuban turns up in shape on Saturday, according to David Haye.

Solis, who will fight for the WBC heavyweight title in Cologne, has failed to set the professional game alight after an impressive amateur record, with serious question marks over his commitment to training.

He was a shade over 14 stone when he stopped Haye as an amateur, but is expected to weigh in at around the 18 stone mark in Germany, where he will have the chance to deny Haye his dream of defeating both Klitschko brothers before retiring from the sport in October.

"It depends upon Solis because we all know what Vitali will do, he has done it his whole career," Haye said. "He will use his height and reach advantage and will be fit for 12 rounds. He has got a good chin so Solis can't go in there and try and blast him out.

"You can't go out there with Vitali with anything other than a perfect game plan and if there's anyone on the planet other than me who can do it, it's Solis. A Solis at 260 pounds won't beat Vitali, but a Solis at 225 pounds can.

"It depends if Solis has got himself into condition. If he has, he could cause Vitali fits. I hope Vitali doesn't lose. I don't want to lose out on a great final showdown with Vitali, the chance to hold all four belts and beat the big brother."

Haye has taken a flurry of verbal swipes at Wladimir Klitschko ahead of their fight on July 2 or June 25, but concedes that he is unlikely to force an early stoppage. "I don't think Wladimir will go down that quick, it will take a few rounds to soften him up, break him down and then take him out and it's going to be exciting either way," he told Metro.

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