Vitali Klitschko, Lucian Bute and Weekend Boxing Recap (With Videos)

There were numerous undefeated records on the line this past weekend.

Many of the opponents were criticized, but they were mostly there for one reason: to get the showcase fighters warmed up for bigger and better fights.

The victorious fighters will carry the future of their divisions in the coming years. They are all viable opponents to the champions in the weight divisions.

Brad Solomon def. Demetrius Hopkins by UD

Brad Solomon (17-0, 7 KO) kept his undefeated record this weekend with a win over Demetrius Hopkins. The fight was the main event of ESPN Friday Night Fights. Solomon won a unanimous decision with the scores 99-91, 99-91 and 97-93.

The 27-year-old from Lafayette, Louisiana, took a big step forward in the welterweight division. Before the bout, Solomon was ranked No. 6 by the WBC and No. 7 by the WBO in the welterweight division.

If Solomon continues to gain experience and move up the ranks, a future title shot against WBA Welterweight Champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (31-0, 22 KO) may be in the works.

James Kirkland def. Jhon Berrio by TKO in the Second Round

Kirkland also extended his win streak to 27-0 with 24 knockouts.

The 27-year-old returned to the ring for the second time this month after a two-year absence from the sport, which he spent fighting court battles and serving a prison sentence for a firearm charge. He was released in September 2010 after serving half of a 24-month sentence.

He is scheduled to fight on the Marcos Maidana vs. Erik Morales undercard in April. The opponent has not been announced.

Guillermo Rigondeaux def. Willie Casey by TKO in Round One

The 2000 and 2004 Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist got the eighth win of his professional career. His opponent was undefeated Willie Casey from Ireland. Casey was dropped three times in the first round until the referee called a halt to the bout at 2:38.

Rigondeaux had an incredible amateur career consisting of over 400 victories and only 12 losses. This extensive amateur record has left a visible impression on the style in which he fights professionally; he will need to adapt to a more contact-oriented approach once he moves up in competition.

This will be the biggest problem for Rigondeaux moving forward in the professional rankings. If he can adapt his style, he will be a threat to the top guys in the bantamweight division.

Vanes Martirosyan def. Bladimir Hernandez by TKO in Second Round

Vanes Martirosyan (29-0, 17 KO) took on Hernandez on the undercard of Lucian Bute vs. Brian Magee in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The Armenian-born fighter quickly knocked his opponent out of the fight. A minute into round two, Martirosyan had finished, kept his undefeated record.

He already has a fight scheduled for April 23 against Saul Roman (34-8) at the WinStar Casino in Oklahoma. The bout will be for the vacant WBC Silver light-middleweight title.

Lucian Bute def. Brian Magee by KO in Round Ten

IBF super-middleweight champion Lucian Bute (27-0, 23 KO) defeated Magee (34-3-1) after landing a body shot in the tenth round of their title fight. It was the third knockdown of the fight, urging the referee to call off the bout.

Bute is ranked No. 2 in the division by Ring Magazine. Andre Ward is the only fighter to be ranked above him. Future fights with Super Six middleweight participants are going to be in the sights of the 31-year-old as his reputation throughout Canada and the U.S. grows even larger.

A fight between him and the winner of the May rematch between Bernard Hopkins (51-5-2) and Jean Pascal (26-1-1) could be the biggest fight of the year and one of the biggest matches in Canada since Sugar Ray Leonard fought Roberto Duran in 1980.

Vitali Klitschko def. Odlanier Solis by KO in Round One

Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KO) defeated his sixth undefeated opponent after knocking out Odlanier Solis in Germany. Solis's credentials were solid going into the bout, including being the 2004 Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist and a veteran of over 250 amateur bouts.

Klitschko landed a right hook that hit Solis on the top of the head, dropping him to the canvas after a delayed reaction. Solis was able to get back to his feet but was not in any condition to continue, even though the round had ended. A knee injury had occurred while Solis fell to the ground.

Since his brother Wladimir Klitschko (55-3) is most likely going to take on David Haye (25-1), Vitali will have to make a decision of who to fight next. The options are short, but there are opponents who may create some interesting matchups. A fight with Tomasz Adamek (44-1) could be the next best challenge.