When Sergio Thompson (22-2, 20 KOs) stopped Jorge Linares in two rounds last March, not only was it an early candidate for Upset of the Year, but it meant that the Cancun native was headed for a title shot against WBC lightweight champ Antonio DeMarco.
Then Thompson was informed by Jose Sulaiman and the WBC that what was billed as a “WBC lightweight title eliminator fight” was not a “final” eliminator and, therefore, not a prelude to a title shot.
So, instead of preparing for a July shot at gold, Thompson is taking on Argentine punching bag Juan Ramon Solis (17-5, 6 KOs) at a hotel complex in Cancun.
Solis is being sold as a fighter on a 12-fight win streak, but those 12 consecutive wins have come on the Argentina club circuit against opponents with a combined record of 80-151-10.
Thompson, himself, hasn’t been in very tough. Mostly fighting on low-level cards on the Mexican beach circuit, the Linares win and a split decision loss to Uzbekistan’s lightweight contender Alisher Rahimov represent the only significant bouts on his resume. Still, his Linares shocker has earned him a No. 10 ranking in The Boxing Tribune’s lightweight top 10.
The co-feature at the Oasis Hotel Complex in Cancun pits former Erik Morales victim, the 22-year-old Pablo Cesar Cano (23-1-1, 18 KOs) against the latest in a long line of heavy-handed, but crude Colombian bangers, 23-year-old Fidel Monterrosa Muñoz (29-5, 23 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight bout. Muñoz is best known for two unanimous decision losses to Humberto Soto.
The Mexico vs. Colombia matchup should be fairly competitive, given their respective skill levels and experience, but don’t expect Barrera-Morales.
Also, Deontay Wilder (21-0, 21 KOs) goes on a working beach vacation against Bartonsville, Penn.’s Jesse Oltmanns (10-2, 7 KOs). How much of a threat to the Olympic bronze medalist is Oltmanns? His last bout was a split decision loss to 10-16-1 Joseph Rabotte.
The card will air on FOX Deportes in the U.S. this Saturday at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
