By Mark Staniforth - Boxing fans have become accustomed to heavyweight disappointments, but the failures of both David Haye and Odlanier Solis to remotely trouble the Klitschko brothers makes this year more dismal than most.
Hopes had been high for some time that former world amateur champion Solis would prove himself the man capable of spearheading a new generation of heavyweight talent, with Haye very much part of the vanguard.
But Solis was forced out in the first round of his fight with the elder Klitschko in March due to a serious knee injury, while Haye went on to deliver a below-par performance against Wladimir.
Haye, having proved himself spectacularly unable to live up to his pre-fight boasts, and compounded his error by choosing to blame an injured toe, faces a painful future re-establishing his heavyweight credentials.
But to a large extent, the derision heaped upon Solis - seen by some as another seeking a quick get-out clause in the manner of Bruce Seldon, who notoriously took a 10-count against Mike Tyson without being hit - was unfair. [Click Here To Read More]
Hopes had been high for some time that former world amateur champion Solis would prove himself the man capable of spearheading a new generation of heavyweight talent, with Haye very much part of the vanguard.
But Solis was forced out in the first round of his fight with the elder Klitschko in March due to a serious knee injury, while Haye went on to deliver a below-par performance against Wladimir.
Haye, having proved himself spectacularly unable to live up to his pre-fight boasts, and compounded his error by choosing to blame an injured toe, faces a painful future re-establishing his heavyweight credentials.
But to a large extent, the derision heaped upon Solis - seen by some as another seeking a quick get-out clause in the manner of Bruce Seldon, who notoriously took a 10-count against Mike Tyson without being hit - was unfair. [Click Here To Read More]
Comment