Cuban exile Odlanier Solis became Vitali Klitschko's mandatory challenger after beating veteran American Ray Austin on Friday.
Cuban takes eliminator after Austin's antics
Cuban exile Odlanier Solis became Vitali Klitschko's mandatory challenger after beating veteran American Ray Austin on Friday.
Solis, who won Olympic gold for his country in 2004 but now fights out of Miami, won the WBC heavyweight title eliminator after Austin was disqualified for punching after the bell in the 10th round.
Austin appeared to be out on his feet after taking a series of combinations and with the 40-year-old desperately clinging on the pair almost disappeared out of the ring.
The referee had to step in to save Solis from going over the ropes backwards, and called the fight off.
Solis, now 17-0, dominated much of the fight thanks to his faster hand speed and combinations, decking Austin in the fifth round with a left hand.
However, despite being the better boxer one judge had the fight 85-85, another scored it 88-82 for Solis and the third 86-84 for Austin through the first nine rounds.
"What's the worst that could have happened - I could have knocked him out or make him look ridiculous," Solis said. "I made him look ridiculous."
Meanwhile, Tavoris Cloud retained his IBF light-heavyweight title with a unanimous points decision over Colombia's Fulgencio Zuniga.
The undefeated American landed effective shots to the head throughout the second defence of his title, but although he couldn't finish off Zuniga the scorecards told the tale; 117-108, 118-108 and 116-109.
"I know I had better skills, but he obviously came into this fight in good shape," Cloud said. "I only give myself a 'B' performance. I will tell you, I took this man seriously because I knew he was going to come to fight."
