I never like it when a fighter smiles too much before a battle. While there are a select few that can seem perfectly content with themselves and life as a whole before they lace up the leather, it’s my observation that it is a rarity. I don’t know what it is, maybe I’ve lost the final marble I was playing with but Jorge Solis seems just too damn happy to be there on Saturday. When you’re facing off against one of the most destructive wrecking machines of recent times in Manny Pacquiao, I’d expect your demeanor to be a little more… serious if not pensive.
Sometimes “The Boxing Bookie” just doesn’t get it. Last week the oddsmakers started off making Joe Calzaghe a 30-1 favorite to beat Peter Manfredo Jr. At this point in time, they’ve only made Manny a 9-1 favorite over Solis. Unlike Calzaghe, Manny is definitely in his physical prime and is looking better, sharper, and more focused with each fight. While Solis seems to be a decent fighter with good fundamentals, it will take a lot more than that to beat the “Pacman”. When facing off against the Filipino southpaw, you’re in for sure gut-check, heart-check, and definitely a chin-check. If somehow you don’t have all these “checks” in abundance, you’re not going to beat, let alone survive the onslaught you’ll be sure to face.
I don’t know Jorge Solis personally so I can’t tell if he’s similar to Australian fighter, Sam Soliman or Ugandan fighter, Kassim Ouma in the way they consistently smile leading up to a fight and even between rounds but I just feel it’s a bad sign. It’s a sign that he’s content with being in the spot-light for once in his career and is already at peace with himself. A fighter should never feel so much peace when heading into the biggest war of his life. When it’s war time, it’s a time when you wear your game face and focus on the task at hand.
This Saturday the task is an offensive force
that will bring the pain and let it rain,
with his punches in bunches, Jorge better pack more than a few lunches,
for what promises to be, a long night of agony,
should he just be content on maybe getting hell bent,
by this man they call the Pacman who might just send him to Sleepy Land…
Ok, I might be a terrible poet but I’m picking the Pacman to walk through Solis and make the oddsmakers look like they should have made him a 50-1 favorite. Jorge can run but he can’t hide so Manny should find a way to track him down and be his “Sandman” to put his lights out and bring all the dreams “Coloradito” has ever wanted come true.
