Sam Soliman (born 13 November 1973) is an Australian professional boxer, and former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. In boxing, he held the IBF middleweight title in 2014.
Sam Soliman | |
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Statistics | |
Nickname(s) | King |
Weight(s) |
|
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1] |
Reach | 71+1⁄2 in (182 cm)[1] |
Born | (1973-11-13) 13 November 1973 (age 48) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 66 |
Wins | 48 |
Wins by KO | 19 |
Losses | 16 |
Draws | 1 |
No contests | 1 |
Soliman is a former world champion in kickboxing, and also competed in Muay Thai.[2][3]
On 20 April 1997, Soliman made his professional boxing debut, defeating Heath Stenton by four-round unanimous decision (UD).[citation needed] In the first half of his career he won a multitude of regional titles, from light-middleweight to cruiserweight.[citation needed] Most notably 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.[citation needed] 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.[4] In a rematch on 28 May 2008, this time with Mundine as defending champion, Soliman lost by UD.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7] In October 2016, Soliman was exonerated by a German court which judged the Federation to have acted unlawfully, thus overturning the no contest result.[8] However, in 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.[9]
Soliman 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.[10] In 1996, he competed as a contestant on season three of Australian Gladiators.
66 fights | 48 wins | 16 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 19 | 2 |
By decision | 29 | 14 |
Draws | 1 | |
No contests | 1 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
66 | Win | 48–16–1 (1) | Jesse White | SD | 6 | 11 Dec 2021 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
65 | Loss | 47–16–1 (1) | Victor Nagbe | UD | 10 | 10 Jul 2021 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
64 | Loss | 47–15–1 (1) | Sakio Bika | UD | 8 | 31 Mar 2021 | Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, Australia | |
63 | Win | 47–14–1 (1) | Mark Lucas | UD | 12 | 12 Apr 2019 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant WBF (Foundation) middleweight title |
62 | NC | 46–14–1 (1) | Tej Pratap Singh | MD | 10 | 27 Jul 2018 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | WBA Oceania middleweight title at stake; Originally an MD win for Soliman, later ruled an NC after incorrect referee calls |
61 | Draw | 46–14–1 | Wes Capper | MD | 12 | 17 Mar 2018 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | For vacant IBF International middleweight title |
60 | Win | 46–14 | Balazs Horvath | TKO | 3 (10), 1:21 | 22 Apr 2017 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
59 | Loss | 45–14 | Serhiy Derevianchenko | TKO | 2 (12), 2:41 | 21 Jul 2016 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, US | |
58 | Loss | 45–13 | Dominic Wade | SD | 12 | 26 Jun 2015 | Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington, US | |
57 | Loss | 45–12 | Jermain Taylor | UD | 12 | 8 Oct 2014 | Beau Rivage, Biloxi, Mississippi, US | Lost IBF middleweight title |
56 | Win | 45–11 | Felix Sturm | UD | 12 | 31 May 2014 | König Palast, Krefeld, Germany | Won IBF middleweight title |
55 | Win | 44–11 | Les Sherrington | TKO | 9 (12), 2:12 | 11 Dec 2013 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant PABA interim middleweight title |
54 | Win | 43–11 | Felix Sturm | UD | 12 | 1 Feb 2013 | ISS Dome, Düsseldorf, Germany | |
53 | Win | 42–11 | Giovanni Lorenzo | UD | 12 | 24 Aug 2012 | Geelong Arena, Geelong, Australia | |
52 | Win | 41–11 | Garth Wood | UD | 12 | 19 Feb 2012 | State Sports Centre, Sydney, Australia | Won vacant IBF Pan Pacific interim middleweight title |
51 | Win | 40–11 | Eromosele Albert | UD | 12 | 18 Nov 2011 | Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia | |
50 | Win | 39–11 | Pradeep Singh | KO | 10 (12), 1:27 | 23 Sep 2010 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia | For WBA super middleweight title |
45 | Win | 35–10 | Wayne Johnsen | UD | 6 | 6 Nov 2007 | TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US | The Contender: season finale |
44 | Loss | 34–10 | Sakio Bika | UD | 8 | 30 Oct 2007 | Contender Arena, Los Angeles, California, US | The Contender: semi-final |
43 | Win | 34–9 | Max Alexander | UD | 5 | 18 Sep 2007 | Contender Arena, Los Angeles, California, US | The Contender: first round |
42 | Loss | 33–9 | Anthony Mundine | KO | 9 (12), 2:26 | 7 Mar 2007 | Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | For vacant WBA super middleweight title |
41 | Win | 33–8 | Enrique Ornelas | MD | 10 | 17 Nov 2006 | Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, California, US | |
40 | Win | 32–8 | Raúl Jorge Muñoz | TKO | 6 (10), 1:49 | 3 Mar 2006 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
39 | Loss | 31–8 | Winky Wright | UD | 12 | 10 Dec 2005 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, US | |
38 | Win | 31–7 | Fernando Zuniga | UD | 10 | 21 Jul 2005 | Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino, Lemoore, California, US | |
37 | Win | 30–7 | Miguel Julio | TKO | 4 (10), 2:20 | 23 Feb 2005 | Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia | |
36 | Win | 29–7 | Jose Alberto Clavero | KO | 7 (10), 1:13 | 12 Dec 2004 | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | |
35 | Win | 28–7 | Diego Castillo | TKO | 4 (10), 2:35 | 6 Nov 2004 | University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia | |
34 | Win | 27–7 | Raymond Joval | UD | 12 | 18 Jul 2004 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, US | |
33 | Win | 26–7 | Plaisakda Boonmalert | TKO | 3 (10), 1:25 | 28 May 2004 | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | |
32 | Win | 25–7 | Moechrody | TKO | 3 (12) | 16 Apr 2004 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
28 | Win | 21–7 | Satoru Suzuki | UD | 12 | 1 Nov 2003 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained OPBF middleweight title |
27 | Win | 20–7 | Tokutaro Toyozumi | SD | 12 | 7 Sep 2003 | Masukicho Gym, Kumamoto, Japan | Won OPBF middleweight title |
26 | Win | 19–7 | Ramon Arturo Britez | UD | 12 | 12 Aug 2003 | Albert Park Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
25 | Win | 18–7 | Nader Hamdan | UD | 12 | 2 Jun 2003 | Panthers World of Entertainment, Sydney, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
24 | Win | 17–7 | Mike Cope | UD | 10 | 6 Dec 2002 | State Netball and Hockey Centre, Melbourne, Australia | |
23 | Win | 16–7 | Sakio Bika | MD | 12 | 15 Oct 2002 | Albert Park Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia | Retained IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
22 | Win | 15–7 | Sean Sullivan | UD | 12 | 24 Jul 2002 | Albert Park Powerhouse, Melbourne, Australia | Won vacant IBF Pan Pacific middleweight title |
21 | Win | 14–7 | Ojay Abrahams | PTS | 4 | 15 Jun 2002 | Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, London, England | |
20 | Win | 13–7 | Eric Teymour | PTS | 8 | 26 Apr 2002 | Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland | |
19 | Loss | 12–7 | Anthony Mundine | SD | 12 | 3 Sep 2001 | Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia | For vacant IBF Pan Pacific super-middleweight title |
18 | Win | 12–6 | Cornelius Carr | PTS | 6 | 28 Feb 2001 | Royal Garden Hotel, London, England | |
17 | Loss | 11–6 | Raymond Joval | MD | MD | 27 Jan 2001 | Jaap Edenhal, Amsterdam, Netherlands | For IBO middleweight title |
16 | Loss | 11–5 | Howard Eastman | PTS | 12 | 16 Sep 2000 | York Hall, London, England | Lost Commonwealth middleweight title |
15 | Win | 11–4 | Neville Brown | TKO | 9 (12) | 19 Jun 2000 | Meadowside Leisure Centre, Burton, England | Won vacant Commonwealth middleweight title |
14 | Loss | 10–4 | Jerry Elliott | UD | 8 | 6 May 2000 | Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany | |
13 | Win | 10–3 | Paul Wesley | UD | 6 | 13 Apr 2000 | New Connaught Rooms, London, England | |
12 | Win | 9–3 | Sakeasi Dakua | TKO | 4 (8) | 4 Dec 1999 | Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji | |
11 | Loss | 8–3 | Glen Kelly | UD | 12 | 28 Sep 1999 | 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 | Wollongong, Australia | Won vacant Australian middleweight title |
9 | Win | 7–2 | Mosese Sorovi | TKO | 11 (12) | 7 May 1999 | Empire Theatre, Toowoomba, Australia | Won vacant Australian super-middleweight title |
8 | Win | 6–2 | Dale Westerman | UD | 8 | 25 Oct 1998 | Glasshouse, Melbourne, Australia | |
7 | Win | 5–2 | Marty Fogas | UD | 8 | 24 May 1998 | Crown, Melbourne, Australia | |
6 | Win | 4–2 | Marc Bargero | UD | 8 | 17 Apr 1998 | Mount Pritchard Community Club, Sydney, Australia | |
5 | Win | 3–2 | Leon Rouse | UD | 4 | 20 Feb 1998 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, US | |
4 | Loss | 2–2 | Adrian Bellin | SD | 12 | 28 Nov 1997 | Corio Leisure Centre, Geelong, Australia | Lost Australian cruiserweight title |
3 | Loss | 2–1 | Kevin Kelly | UD | 12 | 15 Aug 1997 | 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 | Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia | Won Australian cruiserweight title |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Heath Stenton | UD | 4 | 20 Apr 1997 | Billboard Niteclub, Melbourne, Australia |
Sporting positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
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 – present |
Incumbent | ||
Preceded by Thulani Malinga Age 40 |
Oldest boxer to win their first world title Age 40 31 May 2014 – present |