Liborio Solís is aiming to become the second Venezuelan in recent months to defeat an English fighter when he challenges Jamie McDonnell for the WBA World Bantamweight title in Monte-Carlo on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.
In September, Solís’ countryman Jorge Linares overcame Manchester’s Anthony Crolla with an impressive display of skill and speed and he hopes to make it a Venezuelan double in Monte Carlo and become a two-weight World king in the process.
“Linares did well beating another English fighter but that’s what he did and I have to write my own story,” said Solís.
“It’s my turn now. McDonnell is good, he uses his jab well, he throws good combinations, he’s also a strong guy but what I have in my favour also is my World title experience. I have to win this fight round by round and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Standing at 163cm, one of Solís’ biggest issues against McDonnell, who measures 178cm, will surely be the height disparity.
“His height could affect me a little bit,” said Solís. “He is quite tall but I have to work him out and nullify the height difference – I’m preparing myself for this. He looks quite fast but I’m also fast and I’ve had five World title fights. I have that experience behind me and I have shown people that I have the tools and potential to win a World title.
“I’m very motivated because it’s the chance to fight again for a World title against the champion. It would be something very important to become a World champion in two divisions because it’s not easy to do. I know I have the tools to do it. McDonnell is a very good fighter, he’s solid but he has his faults, as do I. I have two hands just as he has two hands and we’re going to give our all in this fight.”
Solis’ clash with McDonnell is part of a huge night of action in Monte-Carlo as WBA World Bantamweight as the most feared Heavyweight on the planet, ‘King Kong’ Luis Ortiz makes his European debut against Malik Scott.
Stephen Smith has a second World title crack, challenging WBA Super-Featherweight kingpin Jason Sosa. Smith travelled to Connecticut to meet IBF ruler Jose Pedraza in April in his first outing for a World belt, and recovered from that points loss with a commanding win over Daniel Brizuela in his hometown of Liverpool a month later. Puerto Rican-American Sosa defends his strap for the first time having ripped the crown from Javier Fortuna in Beijing in June.
Martin Murray is targeting World title action in 2017 but faces a stiff test in the shape of former interim WBA Middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov.
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