By Jake Donovan

Former junior flyweight titlist Ulises “Archie” Solis picked up his third straight win by Eric Ortiz on Saturday night at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.

Scores were 98-89 (twice) and 99-88 for Solis in the main event of the latest “Top Rank Live” telecast. Solis weighed 113 ½ lb, while Ortiz was slightly lighter at 113 lb. for their over-the-limit flyweight bout.

The consensus belief was that Solis would steamroll through Ortiz, once a titlist but who long ago had become an opponent for hire. Things eventually developed along those lines even if the knockout never came, but Ortiz held his own in the opening round, boxing smartly and maintaining enough distance to avoid Solis’ left hook and overall power advantage.

Solis went to the stick in the second, using the jab in attempt to set up his power shots. It worked to some degree, though what he didn’t anticipate was Ortiz fighting fire with fire, hanging competitively even as the bout progressed from a boxing match to a shootout.

By the third round, the fight anticipated on paper became a reality regardless of what the announcers were trying to sell. Solis’ jab continued to be effective, and also found success with his overhand right, while Ortiz struggled to keep up.

More of the same came about in the fourth and fifth rounds, as Solis went back and forth between boxing and banging. The fourth saw Solis stick and move, landing the occasional power shot but also utilizing lateral movement to frustrate Ortiz. One round later, Solis went to his power attack, digging to the body and then doubling up with his left hook.

The second half of the fight became a glorified sparring session. Solis boxed as he pleased, and also landed several flush right hands whenever he chose to press the action. Ortiz had no answers, following him around the ring but was slow to pull the trigger, resulting in slow-moving action over the back half of the fight.

Sprinkles of drama surfaced in the ninth, the round in which Solis stopped Ortiz in their first fight 4 ½ years ago. Solis was docked a point by referee Jay Nady for pushing Ortiz to the canvas, after having previously drawn warnings earlier in the fight.

Ortiz had a chance to make a statement even though the fight was long ago in the bag, but it was Solis who instead made his presence felt, dropping Ortiz with a left hook, right hand combo just before the bell.

Another knockdown came in the final round for Solis, courtesy of an overhand right that caused Ortiz to touch his glove to the canvas. The sequence basically amounted to Solis adding insurance to an already lopsided win on the scorecards.

The reading of the scorecards was a mere formality, as there was no question who won the fight. The only real question at night’s end was what the future had in store for the Mexican McNulty, who improves to 31-2-2 (24KO). It was Solis’ third straight win since watching his lengthy title reign come to a violent end with his knockout loss to Brian Viloria last April.

Ortiz’ career continues to spiral downward in the opposite direction. The Mexican journeyman falls to 32-11-3 (21KO). The loss was his second straight and third in his last four fights covering a 12-month span.

In discussion for Solis is a potential title fight with recently crowned junior flyweight titlist Omar Nino Romero, who became a two-time titlist after taking a controversial decision over Rodel Mayol a couple of weeks ago.

Also waiting in the wings is a mandatory title shot at his old belt, though he’ll have to wait out the results of the September 4 match between Carlos Tamara and Luis Lazarte.