Sam Soliman (born 13 November 1973) is an Australian professional boxer, and former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. In boxing, he held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) middleweight title in 2014, becoming the oldest middleweight world champion in history at the time.[2]
Sam Soliman | |
---|---|
Born | |
Other names | King |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1] |
Reach | 71+1⁄2 in (182 cm)[1] |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 71 |
Wins | 49 |
Wins by KO | 19 |
Losses | 19 |
Draws | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Kickboxing career
editSoliman is a former world champion in kickboxing, and also competed in Muay Thai.[3][4]
Professional boxing career
editSoliman made his professional boxing debut on 20 April 1997, defeating Heath Stenton by four-round unanimous decision (UD).[5] In the first half of his career he won a multitude of regional titles, from light-middleweight to cruiserweight. He won the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title on 19 June 2000, scoring a ninth-round stoppage over Neville Brown. This reign was short-lived, as Soliman would lose a points decision to Howard Eastman a few months later on 16 September. His first world championship opportunity came on 7 March 2007, against Anthony Mundine for the vacant WBA super-middleweight title in an all-Australian showdown. After four knockdowns, Soliman lost by knockout in round nine.[6] Later in the year, on 6 November, he finished third in the Contender series by defeating Wayne Johnsen by six-round UD.[7] In a rematch against Mundine on 28 May 2008, this time with Mundine as defending champion, Soliman lost by UD.[8]
The pinnacle of Soliman's career was on 31 May 2014, when he defeated multiple-time world champion Felix Sturm by UD to win the IBF middleweight title.[9] They had previously fought on 1 February 2013, which was a fight marred afterwards by a drawn-out legal battle which took more than three years to resolve. Soliman was first announced to have failed a drug test in April 2013, which resulted in the German Boxing Federation ruling the fight a no contest and handing him a nine-month suspension in Germany.[10] In October 2016, Soliman was exonerated by a German court which judged the Federation to have acted unlawfully, thus overturning the no contest result.[11] However, in what would be yet another short-lived championship reign, Soliman lost by UD to former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor on 8 October 2014, enduring four knockdowns due to a debilitating knee injury.[12]
Outside of boxing
editSoliman has worked with people in need, and closely with the Salvation Army. He has set up a gym and spends twice a week teaching fitness and wellbeing to homeless people.[13] In 1996, he competed as a contestant on season three of Australian Gladiators.
Professional boxing record
edit70 fights | 49 wins | 19 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 19 | 3 |
By decision | 30 | 16 |
Draws | 1 | |
No contests | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Age | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
71 | Loss | 50–19–1 (1) | Yuki Nonaka | UD | 12 | 6 Apr 2024 | 50 years, 145 days | Sangyo Shinko Center, Sakai, Japan | |
70 | Loss | 50–18–1 (1) | Alex Walters | UD | 8 | 9 Dec 2023 | 50 years, 26 days | Orion Function Centre, Campsie, Australia | |
69 | Loss | 50–17–1 (1) | Joel Camilleri | TKO | 1 (8), 1:05 | 9 Dec 2022 | 49 years, 26 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
68 | Win | 50–16–1 (1) | Troy O'Meley | TD | 4 (8) | 3 Jul 2022 | 48 years, 232 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
67 | Win | 49–16–1 (1) | Jesse White | UD | 8 | 19 Mar 2022 | 48 years, 126 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
66 | Win | 48–16–1 (1) | Jesse White | SD | 6 | 11 Dec 2021 | 48 years, 28 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
65 | Loss | 47–16–1 (1) | Victor Nagbe | UD | 10 | 10 Jul 2021 | 47 years, 239 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
64 | Loss | 47–15–1 (1) | Sakio Bika | UD | 8 | 31 Mar 2021 | 47 years, 138 days | Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, Australia | |
63 | Win | 47–14–1 (1) | Mark Lucas | UD | 12 | 12 Apr 2019 | 45 years, 150 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant WBF (Foundation) middleweight title |
62 | NC | 46–14–1 (1) | Tej Pratap Singh | NC | 10 | 27 Jul 2018 | 44 years, 256 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | WBA Oceania middleweight title at stake; Originally MD win for Soliman, later ruled NC after incorrect referee calls |
61 | Draw | 46–14–1 | Wes Capper | MD | 12 | 17 Mar 2018 | 44 years, 124 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | For vacant IBF International middleweight title |
60 | Win | 46–14 | Balazs Horvath | TKO | 3 (10), 1:21 | 22 Apr 2017 | 43 years, 160 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
59 | Loss | 45–14 | Serhiy Derevianchenko | TKO | 2 (12), 2:41 | 21 Jul 2016 | 42 years, 251 days | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | |
58 | Loss | 45–13 | Dominic Wade | SD | 12 | 26 Jun 2015 | 41 years, 225 days | Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington, US | |
57 | Loss | 45–12 | Jermain Taylor | UD | 12 | 8 Oct 2014 | 40 years, 329 days | Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, US | Lost IBF middleweight title |
56 | Win | 45–11 | Felix Sturm | UD | 12 | 31 May 2014 | 40 years, 199 days | König Palast, Krefeld, Germany | Won IBF middleweight title |
55 | Win | 44–11 | Les Sherrington | TKO | 9 (12), 2:12 | 11 Dec 2013 | 40 years, 28 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant PABA interim middleweight title |
54 | Win | 43–11 | Felix Sturm | UD | 12 | 1 Feb 2013 | 39 years, 80 days | ISS Dome, Düsseldorf, Germany | |
53 | Win | 42–11 | Giovanni Lorenzo | UD | 12 | 24 Aug 2012 | 38 years, 285 days | Geelong Arena, Geelong, Australia | |
52 | Win | 41–11 | Garth Wood | UD | 12 | 19 Feb 2012 | 38 years, 98 days | State Sports Centre, Sydney, Australia | Won vacant IBF Pan Pacific interim middleweight title |
51 | Win | 40–11 | Eromosele Albert | UD | 12 | 18 Nov 2011 | 38 years, 5 days | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
50 | Win | 39–11 | Pradeep Singh | KO | 10 (12), 1:27 | 23 Sep 2010 | 36 years, 314 days | Flemington Racecourse Atrium Room, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
49 | Win | 38–11 | Shannon McMahon | TKO | 11 (12), 2:20 | 13 Mar 2010 | 36 years, 120 days | Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant WBF (Foundation) middleweight title |
48 | Win | 37–11 | Les Piper | TKO | 7 (12), 1:43 | 4 Oct 2008 | 34 years, 326 days | Peninsula/Shed 14 at Docklands Central Pier, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant IBF Australasian and WBF (Foundation) interim middleweight titles |
47 | Win | 36–11 | Sintung Kietbusaba | TKO | 7 (12), 1:40 | 16 Aug 2008 | 34 years, 277 days | Peninsula/Shed 14 at Docklands Central Pier, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant IBO Asia Pacific middleweight title |
46 | Loss | 35–11 | Anthony Mundine | UD | 12 | 28 May 2008 | 34 years, 197 days | Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia | For WBA super middleweight title |
45 | Win | 35–10 | Wayne Johnsen | UD | 6 | 6 Nov 2007 | 33 years, 358 days | TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US | The Contender: season finale |
44 | Loss | 34–10 | Sakio Bika | UD | 8 | 30 Oct 2007 | 33 years, 351 days | Contender Arena, Los Angeles, California, US | The Contender: semi-final |
43 | Win | 34–9 | Max Alexander | UD | 5 | 18 Sep 2007 | 33 years, 309 days | Contender Arena, Los Angeles, California, US | The Contender: first round |
42 | Loss | 33–9 | Anthony Mundine | KO | 9 (12), 2:26 | 7 Mar 2007 | 33 years, 114 days | Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | For vacant WBA super middleweight title |
41 | Win | 33–8 | Enrique Ornelas | MD | 10 | 17 Nov 2006 | 33 years, 4 days | Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, California, US | |
40 | Win | 32–8 | Raúl Jorge Muñoz | TKO | 6 (10), 1:49 | 3 Mar 2006 | 32 years, 110 days | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
39 | Loss | 31–8 | Winky Wright | UD | 12 | 10 Dec 2005 | 32 years, 27 days | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
38 | Win | 31–7 | Fernando Zuniga | UD | 10 | 21 Jul 2005 | 31 years, 250 days | Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, US | |
37 | Win | 30–7 | Miguel Julio | TKO | 4 (10), 2:20 | 23 Feb 2005 | 31 years, 102 days | Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia | |
36 | Win | 29–7 | Jose Alberto Clavero | KO | 7 (10), 1:13 | 12 Dec 2004 | 31 years, 29 days | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | |
35 | Win | 28–7 | Diego Castillo | TKO | 4 (10), 2:35 | 6 Nov 2004 | 30 years, 359 days | University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia | |
34 | Win | 27–7 | Raymond Joval | UD | 12 | 18 Jul 2004 | 30 years, 248 days | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
33 | Win | 26–7 | Plaisakda Boonmalert | TKO | 3 (10), 1:25 | 28 May 2004 | 30 years, 197 days | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | |
32 | Win | 25–7 | Moechrody | TKO | 3 (12) | 16 Apr 2004 | 30 years, 155 days | Dandenong Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
31 | Win | 24–7 | Jorge Andres Sclarandi | TKO | 8 (12), 0:01 | 7 Mar 2004 | 30 years, 115 days | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
30 | Win | 23–7 | Juan Carlos Lettieri | KO | 1 (12), 1:29 | 23 Jan 2004 | 30 years, 71 days | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
29 | Win | 22–7 | Silvio Walter Rojas | TKO | 4 (12) | 5 Dec 2003 | 30 years, 22 days | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
28 | Win | 21–7 | Satoru Suzuki | UD | 12 | 1 Nov 2003 | 29 years, 353 days | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained OPBF middleweight title |
27 | Win | 20–7 | Tokutaro Toyozumi | SD | 12 | 7 Sep 2003 | 29 years, 298 days | Masukicho Gym, Kumamoto, Japan | Won OPBF middleweight title |
26 | Win | 19–7 | Ramon Arturo Britez | UD | 12 | 12 Aug 2003 | 29 years, 272 days | Albert Park Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
25 | Win | 18–7 | Nader Hamdan | UD | 12 | 2 Jun 2003 | 29 years, 201 days | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
24 | Win | 17–7 | Mike Cope | UD | 10 | 6 Dec 2002 | 29 years, 23 days | State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne, Australia | |
23 | Win | 16–7 | Sakio Bika | MD | 12 | 15 Oct 2002 | 28 years, 336 days | Albert Park Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
22 | Win | 15–7 | Sean Sullivan | UD | 12 | 24 Jul 2002 | 28 years, 253 days | Albert Park Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
21 | Win | 14–7 | Ojay Abrahams | PTS | 4 | 15 Jun 2002 | 28 years, 214 days | Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, London, England | |
20 | Win | 13–7 | Eric Teymour | PTS | 8 | 26 Apr 2002 | 28 years, 164 days | Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland | |
19 | Loss | 12–7 | Anthony Mundine | SD | 12 | 3 Sep 2001 | 27 years, 294 days | Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia | For vacant IBF Pan Pacific super-middleweight title |
18 | Win | 12–6 | Cornelius Carr | PTS | 6 | 28 Feb 2001 | 27 years, 107 days | Royal Garden Hotel, London, England | |
17 | Loss | 11–6 | Raymond Joval | MD | MD | 27 Jan 2001 | 27 years, 75 days | Jaap Edenhal, Amsterdam, Netherlands | For IBO middleweight title |
16 | Loss | 11–5 | Howard Eastman | PTS | 12 | 16 Sep 2000 | 26 years, 308 days | York Hall, London, England | Lost Commonwealth middleweight title |
15 | Win | 11–4 | Neville Brown | TKO | 9 (12) | 19 Jun 2000 | 26 years, 219 days | Meadowside Leisure Centre, Burton, England | Won vacant Commonwealth middleweight title |
14 | Loss | 10–4 | Jerry Elliott | UD | 8 | 6 May 2000 | 26 years, 175 days | Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany | |
13 | Win | 10–3 | Paul Wesley | UD | 6 | 13 Apr 2000 | 26 years, 152 days | New Connaught Rooms, London, England | |
12 | Win | 9–3 | Sakeasi Dakua | TKO | 4 (8) | 4 Dec 1999 | 26 years, 21 days | Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji | |
11 | Loss | 8–3 | Glen Kelly | UD | 12 | 28 Sep 1999 | 25 years, 319 days | District Junior Rugby Football League, Sydney, Australia | For IBF Pan Pacific and Australian light-heavyweight titles |
10 | Win | 8–2 | Brad Mayo | UD | 12 | 9 Jul 1999 | 25 years, 238 days | Wollongong, Australia | Won vacant Australian middleweight title |
9 | Win | 7–2 | Mosese Sorovi | TKO | 11 (12) | 7 May 1999 | 25 years, 175 days | Empire Theatre, Toowoomba, Australia | Won vacant Australian super-middleweight title |
8 | Win | 6–2 | Dale Westerman | UD | 8 | 25 Oct 1998 | 24 years, 346 days | Glasshouse, Melbourne, Australia | |
7 | Win | 5–2 | Marty Fogas | UD | 8 | 24 May 1998 | 24 years, 192 days | Crown, Melbourne, Australia | |
6 | Win | 4–2 | Marc Bargero | UD | 8 | 17 Apr 1998 | 24 years, 155 days | Mount Pritchard Community Club, Sydney, Australia | |
5 | Win | 3–2 | Leon Rouse | UD | 4 | 20 Feb 1998 | 24 years, 99 days | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
4 | Loss | 2–2 | Adrian Bellin | SD | 12 | 28 Nov 1997 | 24 years, 15 days | Corio Leisure Centre, Geelong, Australia | Lost Australian cruiserweight title |
3 | Loss | 2–1 | Kevin Kelly | UD | 12 | 15 Aug 1997 | 23 years, 275 days | Marrickville RSL Club, Sydney, Australia | For Australian and vacant Commonwealth light-middleweight titles |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Peter Kinsella | KO | 12 (12), 2:33 | 3 Jun 1997 | 23 years, 202 days | Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia | Won Australian cruiserweight title |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Heath Stenton | UD | 4 | 20 Apr 1997 | 23 years, 158 days | Billboard Niteclub, Melbourne, Australia |
References
edit- ^ a b Premier Boxing Champions tale of the tape prior to the Sergiy Derevyanchenko fight.
- ^ "Oldest middleweight boxing world champion". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Brian (6 October 2014). "Soliman: 'Taylor's fighting the champ'". ESPN. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Fischer, Doug (7 October 2014). "Q&A: Sam Soliman". The Ring. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Boxing record for Sam Soliman from BoxRec (registration required)
- ^ Associated Press (7 March 2007). "Mundine Stops Soliman in 9, Wins WBA Title". BoxingScene. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Daniels, Mark (7 November 2007). "Bika lands title". Boston Herald. Digital First Media. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Walter, Brad (29 May 2008). "Mundine gets out of Underbelly turf with title intact". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "Soliman beats Sturm to win IBF middleweight title". 31 May 2014.
- ^ Rafael, Dan (30 April 2013). "Sam Soliman suspended 9 months". ESPN. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "Sam Soliman Over The Moon With Court Victory in Germany". BoxingScene. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Christ, Scott (8 October 2014). "Jermain Taylor back in the mix after win over Sam Soliman". SB Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Kieza, Grantlee (8 April 2017). "After 20 years in the ring, former world champion Sam Soliman could be fighting his last bout". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
External links
edit- Boxing record for Sam Soliman from BoxRec (registration required)
Sporting positions | ||||
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Regional boxing titles | ||||
Preceded by Peter Kinsella
|
Australian cruiserweight champion 3 June 1997 – 28 November 1997 |
Succeeded by Adrian Bellin
| ||
Vacant Title last held by John Mugabi
|
Australian super-middleweight champion 7 May 1999 – July 1999 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Marc Bargero
| ||
Vacant Title last held by Marc Bargero
|
Australian middleweight champion 9 July 1999 – October 1999 Vacated | |||
Vacant Title last held by Alain Bonnamie
|
Commonwealth middleweight champion 19 June 2000 – 16 September 2000 |
Succeeded by | ||
Vacant Title last held by Darren Obah
|
IBF Pan Pacific middleweight champion 24 July 2002 – 10 December 2005 Lost eliminator for world title |
Vacant Title next held by Peter Mitrevski Jr.
| ||
Preceded by Tokutaro Toyozumi
|
OPBF middleweight champion 7 September 2003 – October 2004 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Sakio Bika
| ||
Vacant Title last held by Ben Crampton
|
IBO Asia Pacific middleweight champion 16 August 2009 – October 2009 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Luke Sharp
| ||
IBF Australasian middleweight champion 4 October 2009 – 23 September 2010 Won Pan Pacific title |
Vacant Title next held by Robbie Bryant
| |||
New title | IBF Pan Pacific middleweight champion Interim title 19 February 2012 – 24 August 2012 Won eliminator for world title |
Vacant | ||
Vacant Title last held by Dmitry Chudinov
|
PABA middleweight champion Interim title 11 December 2013 – May 2014 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Mark Lucas
| ||
Minor world boxing titles | ||||
New title | WBF (Foundation) middleweight champion Interim title 4 October 2009 – 13 March 2010 Won full title |
Vacant | ||
Vacant Title last held by Kreshnik Qato
|
WBF (Foundation) middleweight champion 13 March 2010 – September 2010 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Shannan Taylor
| ||
Vacant Title last held by Junior Castillo
|
WBF (Foundation) middleweight champion 12 April 2019 – 12 April 2019 Retired |
Vacant | ||
Major world boxing titles | ||||
Preceded by | IBF middleweight champion 31 May 2014 – 8 October 2014 |
Succeeded by | ||
Records | ||||
Preceded by Bernard Hopkins
Age 40 |
Oldest middleweight world champion Age 40 31 May 2014 – 4 March 2023 |
Succeeded by Gennady Golovkin
Age 40 | ||
Preceded by Thulani Malinga
Age 40 |
Oldest boxer to win their first world title Age 40 31 May 2014 – present |
Incumbent |