UPSTART OLIVA EARNS RESPECT IN DEFEAT AGAINST SOLIS

Previously undefeated Jether Oliva had the courage but not the skills and the experience and lost a unanimous twelve round decision to veteran Ulises Solis in an IBF title fight in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sunday, Manila Time.

The scorecards didn’t quite reflect the game challenge posed by the 24 year old Filipino who shook the Mexican champion with his left hook a few times and was the aggressor at the start.

One judge inexplicably scored a 120-108 shutout while another judge gave Oliva two rounds turning in a 118-110 scorecard while the third gave the Filipino youngster one round in a 119-109.

Fears of another Filipino being fed to the lions because of the short, four-week notice given him to take the fight proved unfounded solely because of Oliva’s remarkable ability to absorb punishment and his incredible fighting heart which won him the respect of the champion and Mexican fight fans for a brave effort.

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani told the Daily Inquirer after the bout that while Oliva had “no injury or traces of a swollen face, Solis had a cut on his left eye with blood running from his nose.”

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Filipino Jether Oliva loses title bid in Mexico

Guadalajara, Mexico - Jether Oliva's 17-0-1 (11 KOs) attempt at the IBF Light Flyweight belt held by Ulises Solis 33-2-3 (21 Kos) of Mexico ended in a disappointing loss in the scorecards for the Filipino fighter. The 24 year old pugilist from General Santos City started strong from the opening bell as he went into attack mode early on the 29 year old champ who is fighting in front of his hometown crowd.

His left hooks to the body and head found its mark early in the fight but he was unable to sustain it as Solis used his jabs to waived off the attacking Filipino. The more precise Mexican landed good combinations on Oliva who gets caught one too many once he misses on his assault on Solis. The champion took advantage of Oliva's lack of defense as the Filipino's wild punches missed which placed Oliva in the receiving end of Solis's effective counter punching The champ peppered the aggressive Filipino with hurting body shots that opened his defense even more.

He coupled the body work with uppercuts and right hooks to the head which found its way to Oliva. Solis landed devastating combinations in the body and head in the 10th round which forced Oliva to hold on to him to survive the round. Solis who suffered a cut on his left eye which appeared to be a result of an accidental clash of heads finished the fight landing the more cleaner shots on the awkward but game Oliva.

This is Jether Oliva's first defeat of his career on his first fight out of the Philippines. His last 17 fights were all held inside the country. He put up a courageous effort in the lost as he was on constant attack for the majority of the fight. Oliva was on pursuit of Solis even on moments where he seemed hurt. He stunned the champ a couple of times in the match with head shots with his left hook which proved to be his best weapon of the night.

His lack of follow through made him unable to inflict further damage on Solis which was heavily cheered by the favorable crowd at the fight held at the Auditorio Benito Juarez and televised over the continental US via Box Azteca. The more experience Solis who is 3-1 against Filipino fighters prior to this fight provided a well rounded performance of the first defense of the belt which he won in April against Argentinean Luis Alberto Lazarte. The scores were 118-110, 119-109 and 120 -108 all in favor of the reigning champion.

Source, philboxing.com link: philboxing.com/news/story-59152.html