Majority of boxing fans predicted that Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will demolish unbeaten but untested Mexican slugger Jorge Solis in early rounds of their scheduled 12-round super featherweight encounter on Sunday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Based on the Pacland poll posted at mannypacquiao.ph, almost 55 percent of the 13,766 respondents believed that Pacquiao will be too much for Solis and reigning WBC international super featherweight champion will knockout the Mexican in early rounds.
Only 16.5 percent voted that Pacquiao will come out victorious in the later rounds while 11.4 percent said Solis will shock the world with a huge upset as forecasted by his handlers.
Solis is undefeated in 34 fights with 23 knockouts and two draws but the 27-year-old native of Guadalajara, Mexico has not faced top caliber boxers like Pacquiao who is considered by many as world’s best- pound- for- pound fighter today.
Pacquiao will be facing Solis at the same venue where he scored a career-boosting upset against Marco Antonio Barrera whom he peppered with barrage of powerful punches that forced the Mexican handlers to stop the fight in the 11th round in November 15, 2003.
Six months later, Pacquiao returned in the ring at the fabled MGM Grand in Las Vegas to knock down reigning world champion Juan Manuel Marquez three times in the first round before settling to a controversial draw decision.
The 2006 was the most memorable year for the pride of the Philippines as he defeated Hall of Famer-bound Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales two times via stoppages to avenge his unanimous loss in 2005.
Solis boasted during the final press conference of ‘Blaze of Glory’ Wednesday that he is a better fighter compared to Barrera and Morales and even Marquez, owing to his different style that he will use against Pacquiao.
“I am very motivated to make a slash and shock the world. I will end Manny’s winning streak against the Mexicans,” Solis warned.
Solis went on a six-week intensive training which includes 300 rounds of sparring to prepare for his ring date with the much-celebrated Pinoy fighter.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is 100 percent ready and his conditioning coach Justine Fortune said they would not take Solis lightly.
“I have to be ready for him and I will be,” Pacquiao, who packs ring record of 43-3-2 including 34 via knockouts. (PNA)
