SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Call it bravado, machismo or whatever, but Jorge Solis believes he’s probably Mexico’s best fighter.
Better than Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera or Juan Manuel Marquez — all of whom are future Hall of Famers and have squared off against superstar Manny Pacquiao.
“Of course, I think I’m better than Morales, Barrera or Marquez,” the unbeaten Solis told the media in Spanish on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) before doing his workout at the Jesse James Lejia Gym here for his April 14 WBC International super featherweight title fight against Pacquiao.
Though he hasn’t fought any of the three famous Mexicans, Solis boasted he’s a different type of boxer with a different style.
“He (Pacquiao) hasn’t faced a boxer like me,” said Solis, who insists he’s 5-foot-9 and not 5-8 ? as listed in the promotional material issued by Blaze of Glory organizer Top Rank. “I’ve undergone the best preparation in my life and I come to beat Pacquiao.”
By way of comparison, Morales decisioned Pacquiao in their first encounter, but lost the succeeding two of their trilogy, while Barrera bowed to the Filipino in their showdown here in Nov. 15, 2003. Marquez is best remembered for having survived three first-round knockdowns and forging a draw against Pacquiao on May 6, 2004.
The 27-year-old Solis, older brother of International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight champion Ulises, started training early in January and spent six weeks at Mexico’s Otomi Mountains.
Continuing his training in Tijuana, Mexico, Solis has logged over 300 rounds of sparring against quality boxers like rising star Humberto Gonzales and the crafty Tomas Rojas, whom former Filipino world champion Gerry Pe?alosa beat last year.
Solis, the seventh of 11 children of a former bus driver and a food stall owner in Guadalajara, said Pacquiao’s vaunted punching power which had stopped 33 of his 43 victims doesn’t worry him.
“I’m not concerned,” said Solis. “I don’t know how hard he really hits and I’ll find out in the ring.”
Solis, of course, already has an idea from watching tapes of Pacquiao-Morales I, Pacquiao-Barerra and Pacquiao-Morales II.
“He (Pacquiao) is very strong and fast. There’s no doubt in my mind that it (fight) is going to be difficult.”
As to the hype surrounding the bout, Solis admitted that never in his 35 fights (32 wins 23 knockouts, 2 draws and one no decision against Humberto Soto) has he seen so much buildup and attention.
“Never, this is something way beyond everything I’ve faced,” said Solis.
Come Saturday (Sunday in Manila), he’ll also know whether Pacquiao’s punches are beyond everything that had struck him in the ring.
