Philippines, 17 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


The Head Butt That Hastened Solis's Downfall


PhilBoxing.com




Canoga Park, CA -- Before the much-hyped Pacquiao-Solis “Blaze of Glory” at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas last Saturday, many pundits and common boxing fans predicted that Pacquiao will end his fight with Solis in the early third of the 12 round fight.

But, the Pacman had some other plans.

Pacquiao revealed to this writer and a few of his privileged friends who were inside his private bedroom in his suite at the Radisson Hotel after the fight that he wanted to prolong the fight and entertain his fans and supporters just a wee bit longer. He was so confident of his victory that he felt it would be an extra treat for everyone if the fight lasted longer much like the Larios fight at Araneta Coliseum.

Such is Pacquiao. Even faced with an opponent like Solis who parades an undefeated record and could be potentially dangerous, his thoughts are still about entertaining his fans and supporters. Indeed, the trappings of an emerging politician!

But, Freddie Roach had better ideas and reportedly told Pacquiao to quit playing and finish off Solis. Roach’s concern of course was that anything can happen in the fight particularly with Pacquiao facing a very hungry Solis who is out to make a name for himself.

Then in the 6th round, Roach’s concern came to being. Pacquiao suffered an accidental head butt from Solis that opened a nasty cut above his left eyebrow.


Solis (right) butts Pacquiao's left eye with his head that hastens Solis's own downfall. Photo by Dr. Ed de la Vega.

When the head butt occurred, it dramatically changed Pacquiao’s personal agenda. What appeared to be a relatively easy fight has rapidly deteriorated to something that is so urgent. The fight must simply end!

The cut appeared to have enraged Pacquiao.

Pacquiao changed plans and decided to turn on the heat and “put the pedal to the metal” so to speak.

He raised the bar and the only thing poor Solis can do was put up a valiant fight and hopefully prolong the inevitable. Solis managed to do that for at least the 7th round.

But an enraged Pacquiao is a very dangerous Pacquiao.

With powerful combinations that seemed to come from all over the place Solis could not do anything to defend himself, much less throw punches in the direction of Pacquiao. In fact, at the post fight news conference, Solis admitted that Pacquiao is so fast that he had a very hard time seeing where the punches are coming from.

In the 8th, Solis was knocked down twice. Although he beat the count after the first knocked down, he was so beat that he failed to do the same after the second one, giving Pacquiao a KO victory.

“Nun nakita ko na groggy na siya tapos nun unang knocked down, alam ko tapos na ang labanan,“ said Pacquiao (When I saw him groggy after the first KD, I knew the game is over).

With that, Solis’s clean record suddenly had a blemish. He joined the infamous list of Mexican pugs that fell before Pacquiao and sealed the Pacman’s reputation as the “Mexican assassin.”

Solis ending up with the others was inevitable. But, it was hastened because of the head butt.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.