Sam Soliman

Sam Soliman (born 13 November 1973) is an Australian boxer of Coptic Australian descent who is a former IBF World Middleweight champion. Soliman began his boxing career after studying multiple forms of martial arts, such as Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and Kick-Boxing.

Martial arts career

Soliman is a former ISKA and WKA kickboxing champion.^[1]

Amateur boxing career

Soliman compiled an Amateur Record consisting of 84 fights, with 11 losses^[2]

Professional boxing career

Soliman began his professional boxing career on 20 April 1997 with a four round unanimous decision over Heath Stenton. He followed this win with a twelfth round knockout victory over Peter Kinsella for the Australian cruiserweight title. He lost his next two bouts however against Kevin Kelly and Adrian Bellin, losing his title in the process. Six more victories followed until dropping a decision to Glen Kelly for the IBF Pan Pacific light heavyweight title. His next performances were inconsistent, winning four and dropping three to various contenders and journeymen.

Soliman vs. Mundine

On 3 September 2001, Soliman faced Anthony Mundine for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight title. Soliman lost a controversial split decision that most observers felt he had won.

Soliman vs. Wright

Undeterred, Soliman won his next nineteen bouts against competition of various quality, setting up a fight against the former light middleweight champion Winky Wright. The two fought on 10 December 2005. The bout was mostly competitive, with Soliman's unorthodox style giving Wright trouble at times. Despite this, Wright won a close unanimous decision.

Soliman vs Mundine II

Soliman and Mundine met for a second time, this time competing for the vacant WBA super middleweight championship of the world. Unlike the first fight, Mundine dominated the proceedings, knocking his opponent down once in the second round, and three times in the ninth, prompting a knockout ruling by the referee.

The Contender

After losing by stoppage to Mundine, Soliman joined the ESPN television show The Contender, winning a unanimous decision over Max Alexander before losing against future super middleweight Sakio Bika.

Soliman vs. Mundine III

Despite losing to Bika, Soliman fought a third about against rival Anthony Mundine for the WBA super middleweight title. Despite being rocked in the ninth round, Mundine kept his composure and won a definitive unanimous decision against Soliman.

Soliman vs. Sturm

After his third loss to Mundine, Soliman dropped back down to middleweight, winning seven consecutive matches, setting up his bout against Felix Sturm. Sturm was the former IBF middleweight champion who had just lost a split decision to Daniel Geale, and was looking for a good comeback fight. The two faced off on 1 February 2013. Sturm started well, charging at his shorter opponent and landing big shots, and even scoring a knockdown in the second. However, Soliman quickly regained his composure and took back the fight, outboxing his larger foe and winning a unanimous decision.

Testing Positive

After his victory over Sturm, Soliman tested positive for the illegal stimulant methylsynephrine, forcing the German commission to rule the bout a no-contest and subsequently suspend Soliman for nine months. Soliman protested this decision in light of his test coming back negative in the United States, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Soliman vs. Sturm II

Soliman took a tune-up fight against Les Sherrington, stopping him in the ninth round before being offered a rematch against Sturm, this time for the IBF middleweight title that Sturm had reclaimed from Geale-conqueror Darren Barker. Soliman dominated the bout, landing nearly three times as many punches as Sturm and throwing over 500 more.

Boxing record

42 Wins (28 knockouts), 4 Losses, 0 Draws
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	32-4-1	Jermain Taylor	UD	12	08/10/2014	Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi	Loss IBF World Middleweight title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	39-3-2	Felix Sturm	UD	12	31/05/2014	König Palast, Krefeld, Nordrhein-Westfalen	Win IBF World Middleweight title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	33-6-0	Les Sherrington	TKO	9 (12)	11/12/2013	The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria	Interim PABA middleweight title
NC	37-3-2	Felix Sturm	NC	12	01/02/2013	ISS Dome, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen	IBF Title Eliminator. Fight originally won by Soliman but later changed to a No Contest as a result of Soliman's failed drug test.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	31-4-0	Giovanni Lorenzo	UD	12	24/08/2012	The Arena, Geelong, Victoria
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10-2-1	Garth Wood	UD	12	19/02/2012	Olympic Park Sports Centre, Homebush, New South Wales	Interim IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight title
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	24-5-1	Eromosele Albert	UD	12	18/11/2011	The Melbourne Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria

References

External links

• http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/9225950/sam-soliman-suspended-nine-months-using-performance-enhancing-drugs
• Official website
• Professional boxing record for Sam Soliman from BoxRec