27.04.07 – Hennessy Sports promoted John O’Donnell will face Mexican Christian Solano on the Oscar de la Hoya-Floyd Mayweather undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 5th. The Shepherds Bush welterweight competes alongside his Hennessy Sports teammate John Murray on arguably the biggest promotion in boxing history. The ‘Golden Pair’ will both box over ten rounds..
Solano, who has stopped 14 of his 19 victims, competed over that distance last time out when he dropped a decision to the highly rated Julio Cesar Chavez Junior, a 21-year-old welterweight like O’Donnell. Of JC Junior’s last seven opponents; he is the only one to hear the final bell.
Junior Olympic Gold Medallist O’Donnell, who has strong Irish heritage, won the English Title in his last contest by out-pointing fellow unbeaten prospect Stuart Elwell in standout fashion.
The 21-year, whose gown bears the ancient Irish symbol for gold and ancient Irish wording for ‘The Golden One’, will be looking to impress again next week in front of the world’s media.
“Everyone’s attention is going to be on this event,” said O’Donnell, who was “The Sun’s” pick for the fighter to watch in 2007. “It’s my chance to shine. It’s a big opportunity for me to show people what I can do. Fighting someone like Solano will help me do that.
“He is a tough Mexican, who took Julio Chavez Junior ten rounds a division up. It could be a good comparison because I would love to fight Chavez in the US. He is my age and weight and even though he has had a lot more fights than me, (31 in total), I would love it right now. I know I can take him apart in style.
“Solano is an excellent test for me. I need to be winning these if I am to achieve what I want to achieve. Hopefully I can do a number on him and people will sit up and take notice of what I am all about.
“I’m going to show the American’s what a world-class British prospect really looks like. Amir Khan went out on HBO a couple of weeks back, but from what I’m hearing he didn’t go down too well. It was a bad mismatch.
“I sparred him a few years ago when we were the same weight and I wiped the floor with him. Unlike his accusations about John Murray, that spar actually did happen. There were plenty of witnesses to see it. I know that I am in a different league to Khan and people will start to realise that shortly.”
O’Donnell added: “There will be a few nerves on the night I’m sure. This is the biggest boxing show I can remember, so I’m bound to get a bit nervous, but I will be able to work that to my advantage.
“I won the English title recently and want to make a statement in the States with this fight before getting a crack at the British Title against either Anderson or Magee this year.
“The British Boxing Board of Control need to put me in a final eliminator because I’m ready and would beat any of the top British fighters right now.
‘Golden Pair’ promoter Mick Hennessy is confident that both O’Donnell and his teammate John Murray will fully demonstrate their exciting potential on the marquee event.
“Not many get the chance to fight in the US at such a young age,” he said. “It’s a massive stage and it can be a daunting experience, but that’s why I put these two forward. They are perfect for this job. They are special talents and will rise to the occasion.
“John Murray has impressed abroad before, (in Canada and Florida), and we know John O’Donnell will more than handle the occasion. He is so composed for his age. I think long-term they both have the potential to go all the way and could be boxing in the States frequently. They both have styles that can become a hit with the US fans.”