WILL MEXICAN Jorge Solis make it to next week’s slambang face-off with Manny Pacquiao in San Antonio,Texas?
As far as Top Rank is concerned, the April 14 duel between Pacquiao and Solis is already a done deal at the Alamodome.
However, Solis is still making last-minute arrangements for his visa to be released in his hometown of Guadalajara so he could finally be unveiled to the Los Angeles boxing press on Thursday afternoon.
“He is in Guadalajara right now getting his visa,” Top Rank ace publicist Ricardo Jimenez told The Bulletin yesterday.
Jimenez said he expects Solis and his entourage to arrive in Los Angeles on Wednesday night as Top Rank is holding a public workout for the rising Mexican star the following day as part of its promotion.
Solis, an unknown but dangerous puncher, had failed to attend a press conference that Top Rank put up two weeks ago, citing visa problems.
It could not be known why Solis is having a hard time getting his travel documents in order since he had fought on American soil several times before.
Based on Top Rank’s itinerary, Solis will proceed to Tijuana after the Los Angeles workout and will remain in the border town that’s a two-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles until Sunday. Team Solis will arrive in San Antonio on Monday night.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, will have an open workout on Friday and is slated to spar for the last time on Saturday in preparation for his departure for San Antonio on Easter Sunday.
Meantime, a private jet will bring top trainer Freddie Roach to San Antonio, Texas, so he can call the shots for Pacquiao.
“Everything’s all set,” Roach’s confidant Billy Keane told the Bulletin yesterday from Los Angeles.
