MANILA, Philippines — It’s obvious Bob Arum did not bother to take a second look and check.
Or maybe the famous international promoter had honestly hoped the frail Jorge Solis would shoot up fantastically on fight night?
Otherwise, Arum, a prizefight sage, would’ve not peddled the 27-year-old Mexican as a 5-foot-10 (yes, 5-10) mean machine.
Of course, Arum could not be blamed for having allowed the selling of Solis as an exceptionally tall super featherweight.
After all, the reported height edge, something like four inches, was the strongest card Solis could bring into the ring when he gambles on his future against Manny Pacquiao.
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Based on their respective worth, the Pacquiao-Solis bout could’ve been readily rated as an impending mismatch.
But given the excess inches, basically the most solid quality of the unbeaten Mexican, Solis (32-0) had looked a worthy foe for the celebrated Filipino knockout artist.
Sorry folks, but one glance at Solis, who finally showed up in Los Angeles, after having twice stood up Pacquiao, would bare that the celebrated height edge was bogus.
Maybe Arum had allowed the use of overstretched measuring tape?
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Said one eyewitness to the first Pacquiao-Solis meeting: “If he (Solis) is indeed 5-foot-10, then Pacquiao must be no less than 5-foot-8.”
The truth, and nothing but, was this: Solis did not look a wisp taller than Erik Morales when he stood beside Pacquiao for promotional photos.
Happily amazed, Pacquiao had been quoted as saying Solis was not as tall as advertised, or something to that effect.
For the record, says famous fight journalist Salven Lagumbay, Solis was officially listed as 5-foot-10 by boxrec.
Asked to check again, Lagumbay later admitted that his trusted scout down Los Angeles swore Solis was plainly 5-foot-8.
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A couple of promotional photos, provided by GMA-7, with the two protagonists standing face to face, showed that Solis, indeed, could not be any taller than Erik Morales.
And now that Solis, after having played mysterious, has finally been unveiled, Arum’s Top Rank could only be expected to make the necessary corrections.
You can bet Solis would be officially listed as less than 5-foot-10 in the tale of the tape.
Yes, it would’ve done Solis a lot of good if he had been advertised honestly as no taller than Morales, the Mexican boxing legend whom Pacquiao has toppled and humbled a couple of times.
Unfortunately for Solis, Pacquiao has worked real hard, hoping to fight someone really tall and somewhat good.
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Of course, the April 14 mainer between Pacquiao and Solis at the Alamodome won’t be decided on cubits.
But now that Pacquiao has opted to train and prepare truly hard, with the dread of facing an exceptional foe, this matter about excess qualities could only work against the Mexican side.
Pacquiao, said to be nearing hundred percent, can be expected to check in exceptionally too good for Solis, who has suddenly loomed just an ordinary fighter after being stripped of the bogus inches.
In fact, fight videos of Solis, who displayed some smarts but without the expected lightness of feet, showed the ambitious Mexican would have to surpass himself if he hopes to upset Pacquiao.
Not only does Solis leave his chin open whenever he throws his right straight, but also his sides, definitely frail, would require some granite reinforcements if he’s to survive the scheduled body bombardment.
All told, Solis would have to be anything but the usual Solis if he’s to beat Pacquiao.
Only Bob Arum appears the sure winner at this point.
