Philippines, 21 Apr 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:

  • ‘CALM’ PERO READY TO FACE MILLER’S FIRE
    , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez's son Aaron wins professional debut
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • Top Super Featherweights Tsendy Erdenebat & Cobia Breedy Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • Registration Now Open for the Return of the Butterfly Brawl at the Iconic Santa Monica Pier – August 22, 2026
    , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • Brackets Set for USA Boxing Elite High Performance Team at World Boxing Cup - Stage One
    , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • Team Altagracia Primus Praedia Land Holding champ in Pacquiao chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • 2-Division World Champion  Daniel Ponce De León Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Tue, 21 Apr 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: First Round Game 1 Recap
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu gains a total of 36 rating points, bringing his FIDE rating to 2321 by May after completing 2 chess tournaments in Spain
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • Irish super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde Improves to 15-0 with 10th KO
    , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • IBA Bare-Knuckle Director attends historic Gambian Elite National Championships
    , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Rosales stops Obedencio in RFL 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Atty. Aldwin Alegre shines in 23rd Bangkok Chess Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • JESSE RODRIGUEZ CHALLENGES ANTONIO VARGAS FOR WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE IN GLENDALE ON JUNE 13
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND PHOTOS FROM SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS - TOMORROW, APRIL 18 AT FRONTWAVE ARENA IN OCEANSIDE, CALIF.
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • OFFICIAL ‘REVOLUTION’ WEIGHTS FROM CORK, IRELAND
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • MIKHAIL GRIGORYAN DEFEATS JEO SANTISIMA, CROWNED NEW IBF ASIA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION IN SERPUKHOV
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Ra’eese Aleem Vows Victory Over Angelo Leo Ahead of May 9th IBF Title Fight in Atlanta
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • WCM Nika Juris Nicolas 10th in Serbia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ PENS LONG TERM EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN AND MATCHROOM
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Hermie Rivera: A Fil-Am Original
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 17 Apr 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.