Healthy Poll to Face Solis in Title Bout

After Jesus Poll won the North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight title here last spring, he knew he was going to have to struggle to defend it. But he never dreamed that the struggle would take place outside the ring.

After beating Louie Espinoza at Caesars Palace for the title, Poll was barred from fighting for several months because of his failure to pass a neurological test administered by the California State Athletic Commission. The test is geared to detect early warning signs of brain damage.

Recently, however, the state body revised the test and Poll was able to pass the new version.

Given a clean bill of health, he returned to the ring last month and won a unanimous decision over Alan Makitoki at the Reseda Country Club.

Poll, who fights out of the Ten Goose Boxing Club of North Hollywood, takes his act back to Caesars Palace tonight where he will defend his title in a 12-round bout against Julian Solis of Hartford, Conn. (38-7-1, 20 KOs). Poll is 18-0-2 with 4 knockouts.

Another Ten Goose fighter also will be on the card. Super bantamweight Gabriel Ruelas will meet Jorge Salinas (1-1) of San Diego in a 4-round match.

The 18-year-old Ruelas has won both of his professional matches, including a 24-second knockout of Raul Martinez in his debut.

First bell is at 6:30 p.m.