When one mentions the name The Alamo, memories of battles lost by the Mexican come to mind. Starting with the Alamo Mission one, which took place during early 1836 in a city named San Antonio de Bexar, Texas, all the way to November 15, 2003, when Manny Pacquiao beat Marco Antonio Barrera in what is now known simply as San Antonio, not ignoring the whipping El Gran Campeon Mexicano, Julio Cesar Chavez, took against Pernell Whitaker, losing that fight in everyone’s minds but the judges’.
The first battle was a tragic one that took many lives at the battlefield; the latter two were boxing matches held at San Antonio’s modern facility, The Aladome, quite possibly the last of the great Dome buildings of North America. And yet despite that bad luck Mexican warriors have had in that area, Jorge Solis predicted he will end the Alamo drought for his countrymen come Saturday night against Pacquiao, on an Top Rank Pay Per View card that will include the colorful Jorge Arce against Cristian Mijares, the always intriguing Brian Viloria versus Edgar Sosa, and the prodigy, Julio Cesar Chavez, JR., against Anthony Shuler. A Women’s boxing fight between Maribel Zurita and Emily Kelly is also taking place and it may be shown on the Pay Per View version of the card.
And just who is Jorge Solis? The confident challenger, who made his prediction as soon as he deplaned at San Antonio International Airport early this week, is 32-0-2, 23 KO’s, on his fists. He is the brother of Ulises “Archie” Solis, the IBF Flyweight Champion who accompanied him to the city of the Spurs and backs his brother up on the brash prediction. He has been boxing since 1998, at first mostly in Mexico, then also in the United States, against winning, but poor, opposition. Solis is good, if he wasn’t any good, he wouldn’t be undefeated. The question is, just how good is he?
Solis has held various titles, so he has a lot of belts to look at in his room when he needs a confidence boost. He has been the Jalisco state Featherweight champion, although he won that one almost by default. When you box an Alfredo Mendez for a title, you have to know you are going to win. He won the national Super Bantamweight Title, beating decent opposition in Ruben Estanislao by a 12 round majority decision on October 27, 2001 in Mexico City, D.F. He beat Jose Luis Tula for the vacant Mexican Junior Lightweight Championship in a very odd fight. Not only was Tula undeserving of a title fight at any level, but the fight was held in Santa Ana, California. A fight for a Mexican title held on United States soil is akin to crossing the avenue from a McDonald’s to an adjacent Burger King, and asking for a Big Mac.
In his last title winning effort, he beat credible Wilson Alcorro and who had held him to a draw previously, by a twelve round unanimous decision on November 7, 2003 in Kissimmee, Florida, for the vacant WBA Fedecentro Featherweight Title. Solis has some experience, but honestly, he will face the kind of fighters Pacquiao has faced, for the first time, when he faces Pacquiao. Which doesn’t look good for him.
Pacquiao, of course, doesn’t need introduction. His brother Bobby will probably also accompany him to San Antonio, but, unlike Solis, he is the most prominent boxer in his family. Pac-Man has become a phenomenon as large in the Philippines as his now less popular namesake video game did in the United States twenty years ago. Having worked on Filipino construction sites since a very young age, he developed a sound body and mind, essential for a quality boxing career like his. Imagine developing muscles by sweating, slamming iron and working on prolific building construction sites since such an early age, just to maintain yourself as you resolve to make your boxing dreams become a reality? No wonder many of his countrymen call him Ang Pambansang Kamao-The National Fist. Pacquiao knows the stress of big time fights, having beaten Marco Antonio Barrera, lost a close decision to, and beaten Erik Morales twice, and attending to a hysteric crowd as he out pointed the courageous former WBC Super Featherweight Champion Jorge Larios in Manila. His record, 43-3-2, 34 KO’s, is a testament to a legacy that will someday lead him to the Hall of Fame. He has been knocked out twice, but his last knockout defeat was in 1999 and his chin has gotten stronger, contrary to most times when a fighter gains weight, as he has gone from WBC Flyweight Champion to WBC International Junior Lightweight Champion. The likely scenario here is Solis will bravely try to avenge his Mexican colleagues by getting in and out of Pacquiao’s range and trying to land solid blows to the body and head. He will give his all….but fall short. Pacquiao’s experience, chin and power will overwhelm him, and he will be able to stop Solis inside six rounds.
