# Sam Soliman

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.

## Kickboxing career

Soliman is a former world champion in kickboxing, and also competed in Muay Thai.

## Professional boxing career

Soliman made his professional boxing debut on 20 April 1997, defeating Heath Stenton by four-round unanimous decision (UD). 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. Later in the year, on 6 November, he finished third in the Contender series by defeating Wayne Johnsen by six-round UD. In a rematch against Mundine on 28 May 2008, this time with Mundine as defending champion, Soliman lost by UD.
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. 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. In October 2016, Soliman was exonerated by a German court which judged the Federation to have acted unlawfully, thus overturning the no contest result. 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.

## Outside of boxing

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. In 1996, he competed as a contestant on season three of Australian Gladiators.

## Professional boxing record

| 70 fights | 49 wins | 19 losses |
| By knockout | 19 | 3 |
| By decision | 30 | 16 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 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 | |