Heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis will face another tough test in former world title challenger Owen Beck on January 9th at the “Star of the Desert Arena” at Terrible’s Casino Resort in Primm, Nevada.

The US debut for 2004 Olympic gold medallist Solis will be featured on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights”. “La Sombra” will put his WBC international champion title on the line when he is looking to score his 13th win in as many pro-fights. The three-time world amateur champion is already rated on #14 by the WBC an on the fast track to the top.

32-year-old “What the Heck” Owen Beck (27-3, 20 kos) had two easy comeback wins after being stopped in the 3rd by WBA champion Nikolay Valuev in June 2006.

“This is Solis’ chance to show the US public what he is made of”, states promoter Ahmet Öner. “The heavyweight division is slowly recovering from years of boredom. Odlanier is one of the guys with real superstar potential. Hopefully he can prove that on January 9th.”

The card billed as “Cuba Libre” also features Solis’ compatriots Erislandy Lara and fast rising featherweight star Yuriorkis Gamboa. Tickets are on sale for $35.00 and $10.00 plus fees at Buffalo Bill’s Box Office (call 1-800-FUN-STOP) or on www.ticketmaster.com .

BELLEVUE, Washington – Former Kazakhstan Olympian Beibut “The Beast” Shumenov (6-0, 5 KOs) has a new opponent for Saturday night’s 10-round main event, Epifanio “Diamente” Mendoza, after former world cruiserweight champion Kelvin Davis pulled out of their scheduled fight in Bellevue, Washington.

Shumenov’s new KZ Event Promotions presents Saturday’s show at Meydenbauer Center. He has already captured three titles – WBC Asian Boxing Council, WBO Asia Pacific and PABA Interim light heavyweight championships. His last fight was a one-sided victory by 12-round decision against former WBC title-holder Montell “Ice” Griffin (50-8, 30 KOs).

Two fights ago, Columbian knockout artist Mendoza (28-5-1, 24 KOs) lost to Chad Dawson for the WBC light heavyweight title. Mendoza has won several regional titles including the WBC Fecarbox, WBC Latino, WBA Fedecentro, WBC Latin American and NABA belts.