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."Oldest middleweight boxing world champion". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
Kickboxing career Soliman is a former world champion in kickboxing, and also competed in Muay Thai.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.
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.Associated Press (7 March 2007). "Mundine Stops Soliman in 9, Wins WBA Title". BoxingScene. Retrieved 11 January 2017. Later in the year, on 6 November, he finished third in the Contender series by defeating Wayne Johnsen by six-round UD.Daniels, Mark (7 November 2007). "Bika lands title". Boston Herald. Digital First Media. Retrieved 28 April 2024. In a rematch against Mundine on 28 May 2008, this time with Mundine as defending champion, Soliman lost by UD.Walter, Brad (29 May 2008). "Mundine gets out of Underbelly turf with title intact". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
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.Rafael, Dan (30 April 2013). "Sam Soliman suspended 9 months". ESPN. Retrieved 11 January 2017. In October 2016, Soliman was exonerated by a German court which judged the Federation to have acted unlawfully, thus overturning the no contest result."Sam Soliman Over The Moon With Court Victory in Germany". BoxingScene. 20 October 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017. 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.Christ, Scott (8 October 2014). "Jermain Taylor back in the mix after win over Sam Soliman". SB Nation. Vox Media. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
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.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. In 1996, he competed as a contestant on season three of Australian Gladiators.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes71LossYuki NonakaUD126 Apr 202470Loss49–18–1 Alex WaltersUD89 Dec 202369Loss49–17–1 Joel CamilleriTKO1 (8), 9 Dec 202268Win49–16–1 Troy O'Meley4 (8)3 Jul 202267Win48–16–1 Jesse WhiteUD819 Mar 202266Win47–16–1 Jesse WhiteSD611 Dec 202165Loss46–16–1 Victor NagbeUD1010 Jul 202164Loss46–15–1 Sakio BikaUD831 Mar 202163Win46–14–1 Mark LucasUD1212 Apr 20196245–14–1 Tej Pratap Singh1027 Jul 201861Draw45–14–1 Wes Capper1217 Mar 201860Win45–14 Balazs HorvathTKO3 (10), 22 Apr 201759Loss44–14 Serhiy DerevianchenkoTKO2 (12), 21 Jul 201658Loss44–13 Dominic WadeSD1226 Jun 201557Loss44–12 Jermain TaylorUD128 Oct 201456Win44–11 Felix SturmUD1231 May 201455Win43–11 Les SherringtonTKO9 (12), 11 Dec 20135442–11 Felix Sturm121 Feb 201353Win42–11Giovanni LorenzoUD1224 Aug 201252Win41–11Garth WoodUD1219 Feb 201251Win40–11Eromosele AlbertUD1218 Nov 201150Win39–11Pradeep SinghKO10 (12), 23 Sep 201049Win38–11Shannon McMahonTKO11 (12), 13 Mar 201048Win37–11Les PiperTKO7 (12), 4 Oct 200847Win36–11Sintung KietbusabaTKO7 (12), 16 Aug 200846Loss35–11Anthony MundineUD1228 May 200845Win35–10Wayne JohnsenUD66 Nov 200744Loss34–10Sakio BikaUD830 Oct 200743Win34–9Max AlexanderUD518 Sep 200742Loss33–9Anthony MundineKO9 (12), 7 Mar 200741Win33–8Enrique OrnelasMD1017 Nov 200640Win32–8Raúl Jorge MuñozTKO6 (10), 3 Mar 200639Loss31–8Winky WrightUD1210 Dec 200538Win31–7Fernando ZunigaUD1021 Jul 200537Win30–7Miguel JulioTKO4 (10), 23 Feb 200536Win29–7Jose Alberto ClaveroKO7 (10), 12 Dec 200435Win28–7Diego CastilloTKO4 (10), 6 Nov 200434Win27–7Raymond JovalUD1218 Jul 200433Win26–7Plaisakda BoonmalertTKO3 (10), 28 May 200432Win25–7MoechrodyTKO3 (12)16 Apr 200431Win24–7Jorge Andres SclarandiTKO8 (12), 7 Mar 200430Win23–7Juan Carlos LettieriKO1 (12), 23 Jan 200429Win22–7Silvio Walter RojasTKO4 (12)5 Dec 200328Win21–7Satoru SuzukiUD121 Nov 200327Win20–7Tokutaro ToyozumiSD127 Sep 200326Win19–7Ramon Arturo BritezUD1212 Aug 200325Win18–7Nader HamdanUD122 Jun 200324Win17–7Mike CopeUD106 Dec 200223Win16–7Sakio BikaMD1215 Oct 200222Win15–7Sean SullivanUD1224 Jul 200221Win14–7Ojay AbrahamsPTS415 Jun 200220Win13–7Eric TeymourPTS826 Apr 200219Loss12–7Anthony MundineSD123 Sep 200118Win12–6Cornelius CarrPTS628 Feb 200117Loss11–6Raymond JovalMD27 Jan 200116Loss11–5Howard Eastman1216 Sep 200015Win11–4Neville BrownTKO9 (12)19 Jun 200014Loss10–4Jerry ElliottUD86 May 200013Win10–3Paul WesleyUD613 Apr 200012Win9–3Sakeasi DakuaTKO4 (8)4 Dec 199911Loss8–3Glen KellyUD1228 Sep 199910Win8–2Brad MayoUD129 Jul 19999Win7–2Mosese Sorovi11 (12)7 May 19998Win6–2Dale WestermanUD825 Oct 19987Win5–2Marty FogasUD824 May 19986Win4–2Marc BargeroUD817 Apr 19985Win3–2Leon RouseUD420 Feb 19984Loss2–2Adrian Bellin1228 Nov 19973Loss2–1Kevin KellyUD1215 Aug 19972Win2–0Peter Kinsella12 (12), 3 Jun 19971Win1–0Heath Stenton420 Apr 1997
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