GOLPES DE PODER: SOLIS IS THE FAVORITE, BUT BATAWANG IS NOT FAZED
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 14 Dec 2007
IBF world junior flyweight champion Ulises "Archie" Solis (25-1, 19 KOs) will fight for the sixth defense of his world title against Bertoldo ?Bert? Batawang (50-6, 34 KOs) on Saturday at the Auditorio Benito Juarez in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
The Cebu City resident predicted that he would continue the supremacy of the Philippines over Mexico, when Team Philippines defeated Team Mexico, 5-1, during the Boxing World Cup last August 11. The ?Ninja? hopes to give the Philippines its fifth reigning world champion, after Donnie Nietes, Florante Condes, Nonito Donaire and Gerry Penalosa.
Solis reacted that he does not keep a record of bouts between Filipinos and Mexicans, but has foreseen that Batawang will be the second successive Filipino he will beat. Solis survived a near knockdown in the sixth round to knock out challenger Rodel Mayol in round 8 at The All State Arena in Chicago, Illinois last August 4.
Fighting on the Morales-Diaz ?The War For Four? undercard, Solis was badly harmed in the sixth round but bounced back superbly, blowing up Mayol with a one-two combination that caused the Filipino?s downfall. Solis was caught by a crashing left hook which sent him to the canvas in round 6. Referee John O?Brien ridiculously ruled the fall a slip but the champion was immediately set upon and was hurt by a right hand as the round ended.
The IBF has given Solis a January 25 deadline for his title defense against Batawang, his mandatory challenger, because of his injury that caused the two postponements of their title tiff. The fight was originally scheduled to take place on September 16 but was moved back to October 4 to the disappointment of Batawang who had trained hard for the title shot.
The bout which was rescheduled for December 8 was again postponed to December 15 because of the problems in getting a television slot due to the conflict with the more illustrious Floyd Mayweather, Jr. ? Ricky Hatton fight card in Las Vegas.
The 35-year-old Batawang will have his last chance at the world title and the several postponements might have affected his preparations. Solis, 26, has only one loss in his career, at the hands of Nelson Dieppa three years ago for the WBO world light-flyweight title. He was also the former Mexican champion for the same weight division.
Batawang said he would strive to retaliate with the defeat of Mayol who had Solis on the verge of a knockout. If Mayol almost did it, why can?t Batawang? He trained at the ALA Gym where he had the best sparring partners of the land. Meanwhile, the Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico native has the hometown crowd cheering wildly for him, and that?s one great advantage plus the age factor and the better fight record.
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