On Saturday, November 12, at Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, WBA World bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell (28-2-1, 13 KOs), from Doncaster, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, fights an optional defense of his title against WBA #2 ranked Liborio Solis (25-4-1, 11 KOs), from Maracay, Venezuela.
A former BBBofC, Commonwealth (British), EBU (European), and IBF World bantamweight champion, McDonnell won the vacant WBA World bantamweight title in 2014 when he stopped Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat (52-2 coming in) in the 10th round of a scheduled 12 and has successfully defended the crown four times.
Solis won the Venezuelan super flyweight title in his ninth fight. Since that victory in 2009, he has held the WBA Fedelatin bantamweight title and the interim WBA World super flyweight title. His record since 2011 is 16-1.
McDonnell was hoping to face WBA Super World bantamweight champion Rau’shee Warren, in accordance with the WBA’s desire to have a single champion in each weight class, but that fight has not yet materialized.
“It should’ve been against Rau’shee Warren,” McDonnell told Sky Sports, “but he has his circumstances, which I call ‘bottling it,’ so now we are fighting Solis, a former world champion. Gave Yamanaka, a former world champion, a run for his money two fights ago. A real good test. Strong kid. ”
McDonnell’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, said that Warren “didn’t want the fight in Europe” but was willing to fight in the U.S., although “no dates were offered.”
“Warren’s talking about early next year,” said McDonnell, “but, like I say, I will get this fight in Monaco out of the way, then sit back and enjoy Christmas and see if we want to stay at bantamweight or move up.”
When asked how he felt about fighting in Monaco, McDonnell said, “It’s perfect. I think I am going to stay out there for two days after and soak it hopefully.
“I’ve fought a few times abroad so it doesn’t faze me. I am just really looking forward to it.
“Hopefully I can get a good win.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
