I spoke with Emanuel Steward last month at Miguel Cottos training camp in Hollywood, FL for his take on the Vitali Klitschko WBC Heavyweight title defense against #1 contender Odlanier Solis, the former Olympic heavyweight gold medalist from Cuba.

Steward: ”I don’t know too much about Solis. I think it’s a new type of opponent for the Klitschkos because they haven’t fought too much of a young, aggressive type fighter. They have been basically the Sam Peters, I don’t know, I can go through the whole list of ‘em. They have been slow fighters, there, just going through the role, like almost paid sparring partners for them. So I think Solis has a different mental energy and confidence level and experience that Vitali has not been used to. I know they tell me Solis has not trained in the past, has been overweight. For this fight, I think Solis will be in shape.”

Steward added: ”And I think this is the most dangerous opponent Vitali has fought since his comeback. And I figure, still, Vitali, with experience aside, has an edge but I don’t see any 4-1 and that type (of odds). I see a very tight favorite, maybe 7-5 or something like that. But I don’t see a big, overwhelming favorite. It’s a new energy for Vitali to be going against.”

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