Liborio Solis Files Official Protest Over Loss To Jamie McDonnell

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former champion Liborio Solis has officially filed a protest with the World Boxing Association, to challenge his twelve round decision loss to WBA 'regular' bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell, which took place earlier this month in Monte Carlo.

The fight was close and the majority of the ringside observers saw Solis as the winner, but one ringside judge had it 117-111 in favor of the champion. The other two had it 116-112 and 115-113.

McDonnell's trainer and manager Dave Coldwell, says a potential rematch is possible if the financial figures make sense.

McDonnell has read the comments and he doesn't like the fact that a lot of people view Solis as the rightful winner of that contest.

"At the end of the day, if he stays at bantamweight we haven't got a problem with a rematch," Coldwell told Sky Sports. "I said straight after the fight, that's not our call. It's the promoter's job and if Eddie Hearn puts that rematch on and it is financially viable, it is not a problem at all if Jamie stays at bantamweight. Jamie was upset that everyone believed he got beat and he is not one who is going to run away from it.

According to the WBA's order a few months ago, McDonnell was supposed to face the WBA's super champion at bantamweight, Rau'Shee Warren. That could be an option for McDonnell. Or he might even move up in weight to the super bantamweight division to look for more financial opportunities.

"I believe we are also supposed to be fighting Rau'Shee Warren, but if the WBA turn round and say that's not going to happen and we have to fight Solis, fair enough. I did say before the fight - and not because it was a tight, close fight - in an ideal world Jamie would move up to super-bantamweight as soon as possible," said Coldwell.

"We have to look at the opportunities at super-bantamweight, but it's about making money and taking the biggest fight. If the biggest fights are at bantam, we'll take it. If he is keeping hold of his WBA belt and Eddie can find the money, we'll take this all day long. Jamie won't fight any worse than he did in that first one, that's for sure."