Underdog Oliva seeks Solis IBF title Sunday

Unbeaten Jether Oliva takes a crack at the IBF light flyweight crown of Mexican Ulises Solis when they clash in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sunday.

“Oliva is the underdog but we have the height advantage to offset the advantage of Solis as a veteran fighter,” said promoter Sammy Gello-ani, who helped get Oliva the biggest fight of his young career.

The 24-year-old Oliva, who is two inches taller than his rival at 5-foot-5, is fighting Solis, 29, in a higher division at four-week’s notice.

“You may say that Oliva is overmatched but I think he has reached the day where he has the opportunity to prove himself aside from his strong desire and ambition to become a world champion,” said Gello-Ani.

Oliva has a record of 17-0-1 with 11 knockouts, while Solis is 33-2-3 with 21 KOs.

The Filipino challenger won the WBO Oriental minimum weight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over previously unbeaten Fernando Ocon last May 13 before his American manager Kenny Smith accepted the title fight at short notice.

Smith said Oliva, who is ranked No. 12 by the WBA and the IBF and No. 7 by the WBO was “calm and I feel confident he can win at 108 pounds.”

Solis lost the IBF title via an 11th round knockout to Brian Viloria at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 19, 2009. He regained the title in a rematch with Argentina’s Luis Albert Lazarte.