big thing, according to the crystal ball of arguably Mexico’s most outspoken boxing personality.
Fernando Beltran boasted on Wednesday that Solis will put an end to Manny Pacquiao’s reign of terror this Saturday at the Alamodome.
“We have a very good possibility against Pacquiao,” said Beltran. “Solis doesn’t know how to lose.”
Not only that, Beltran told the congregation, reminding the audience that Mexico has produced some of the world’s finest fighters in the featherweight class.
“This is the weight class of great fighters like (ex-world champion) Salvador Sanchez,” said Beltran, who also represents the legendary Erik Morales among other top ringsters.
“Solis is going to shock the world. I know he has got a big chance. We have talked with his sparring partners (and former sparring partners) and they tell me we have a 90 percent (chance of winning),” said Beltran.
The official weighin will be held on Friday afternoon.
The Pacquiao-Solis tiff takes place between 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday as gate opens at 4:30 p.m. and the first bell will be at 5 p.m.
Solis admitted he hasn’t been in such a high-profile bout but assured his team and the Mexican people that he is not awed by his rival’s sterling credentials.
“When I heard that I would be fighting Pacquiao, I was jumping and I was very excited,” said Solis on the dais. “I could not sleep that night not because I am nervous. I was thrilled.”
Before returning to his seat, Solis said there’s an old saying back in his hometown of Guadalajara in Jalisco State.
“I am taking all the marbles with me,” said Solis, 27, to the applause of the majority of the fans who are of Mexican descent.
Pacquiao, who speaks passable English after being exposed the past several years, was uncharacteristically sloppy with the language that he uses regularly in transacting boxing business.
“As long as you are all happy, I am happy,” Pacquiao told the highly-appreciative crowd.
“I know my opponent trained very hard and will try his best to win,” said Pacquiao, 28, the heavy underdog.
For the nth time, Pacquiao was cautious with his choice of words and reporters could not extract something juicy in relation with his thoughts about the actual fight and it was his Australian strength coach Justin Fortune, temporarily subbing for Freddie Roach, who provided the peppery quotes.
“We will definitely come out the winner,” said Fortune, who believes the 5-8 ? Solis, armed with a two-inch height advantage over Pacquiao, will be fortunate to be standing by the end of the sixth round.
Fortune later told the Bulletin in a chance encounter that he no longer wants Pacquiao to work out on Thursday “but if he does, it’s going to be very light.”
Fortune said he doesn’t even want Pacquiao to run in the morning “but he is a running freak.”
The official weighin will be held at the Alamodome, at the very same spot where the press conference was staged.
“I don’t see any problem,” said Fortune. “He is just two-and-a-half pounds over right now. He can sweat it out.”
