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| After besting Raymond Joval in 2004, a fighter that Fernando Vargas had some issues with quite a few months ago, Australia’s Sam Soliman secured the IBF’s number one contender position by way of a wide twelve round unanimous decision against Fernando Zuniga back in July. The man from Melbourne is now on a waiting list to face Jermain Taylor but waiting |  |
is not really part of Soliman’s game, as he is accustomed to taking on all comers and refuses to turn anyone of merit down. Taking the largest step up in his career, he will be going against defensive master and tactician Ronald “Winky” Wright this Saturday in an official IBF title eliminator. We were fortunate enough to be able to speak with slippery Sam and present this exclusive SaddoBoxing interview.
Sam “King” Soliman, an Australian of Egyptian birth, has worked his way throughout the ranks the hard way. The thirty two year old has a very deceiving record of 31-7 (12), causing some to wonder why he is getting a shot at Winky Wright. There are two reasons; more than a few of those losses are a bit questionable with the only solid loss coming at the fists of Howard Eastman, but the tricky Sam has done a hell of a job in reinventing himself by winning his last nineteen fights.
Soliman is the IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight Champion, former Commonwealth Champion, former three time Australian Champion and is currently rated number one by the IBF and number five by the WBC. He is an awkward orthodox fighter with a seventy inch reach, a good strong jab and all the tools of the trade. And he is a former kickboxer. Maybe that explains the iron chin? He’s proven as of late to be no easy task for anyone in the top twenty and it also seems that lately he has been dodged like a bullet. Sam took time out of his training for the up and coming “Winky” Wright fight on December 10th to talk to Saddoboxing.com.
SB: Hello Sam. Thanks for taking the time out to speak with your supporters at Saddoxing.com. We appreciate it.
SS: “G’day Wacko!”
SB: I know that you are a busy man, so I just want to jump right in with both feet here! You’re now possibly in line for a future challenge against Bernard Hopkins of JermainTaylor. We all realize that Hopkins is on his way out, so it is highly likely that you will get your shots at Taylor instead. The IBF just recently stripped him for not fighting you. Is it possible that was intentional on Taylor’s part or was it all about the IBF, money and Hopkins? In the world of politics, we shall never know. But what’s your opinion on that Sam?
SS: “My honest answer is that I don’t get caught up in the politics of it all. In short, my answer to this is that Winky Wright is who I am focused on right now. When I beat Winky, then I’ll worry about who’s next.”
SB: On December 10th, you will be taking center stage with one of the biggest challenges of your career: Ronald “Winky” Wright. Any expectations? Are you changing your game at all or are you just coming in to win it?
SS: To me this is my world title fight. Make no mistake; Winky is the best in the 160lb division in my eyes. He is respected by many as pound for pound number two. A dangerous fight that I will win. Yes, my game plan will change. Though, one of my key strengths as many know is that my style is awkward, unorthodox and I am capable of adapting it as the rounds go on. They respect Winky for his great forearm coverage and peek-a-boo style. I have never seen the canvas in my entire career & believe my defensive skills are equal to if not better than Winky’s.
SB: So what do you expect Winky to bring to the table? Do you think that maybe he might be underestimating you? I mean, in previousarticles that I have read he is always looking to the future, to Hopkins or Taylor. In my opinion, that’s a mistake. You never look past the man in front of you. I am sure that you know a lot about him or you’ve been going over tapes? What’s the plan? Do you see anything that you might be able to capitalize on, Maybe a chink in Winky’s armor?
SS: “Good question. What does he bring to the table? I think it’s two world titles of experience against plenty of credible opponents: Mosley twice, Trinidad, and Hernandez… Underestimating me? I don’t think so. You don’t get to be a two-time champ by underestimating your opponents, though I am surprised he keeps talking about these fights in current interviews. He probably shouldn’t put the horse before the cart, but that’s just confidence oozing from him. Yes, I have watched most of his fights time and time again with my team. Regards to chinks in his armor? Not many are there. We’ve been concentrating on how to create the chinks and are confident we know how to do this. Capitalize on? Easy. The fact that he hasn’t fought anyone quite like me.”
SB: Do you have any fear or doubt regarding Wright due to the fact that he has just gone on to defeat two of the worlds most accomplished fighters in Tito Trinidad and Sugar Shane Mosley? What does Sam Soliman have that they did not?
SS: “That was then and this is now. As I said earlier, he is a proven eleven time champ and pound for pound number two by many; this I respect, I have no fear or doubt about Winky. What do I have is a totally different style and one that’s capable of taking Winky into uncharted waters. Fitness, stamina and workrate. I am physically and mentally peaking right now.”
SB: Okay, so let’s say that you pass this test with flying colors…what’s next? Will you go after Taylor or are there other names on your hitlist? No offense, but I am a huge Felix Sturm fan…any thoughts on heading in that direction if he gets past Masoe?
SS: “I have for the last two years called out Hopkins because he was the greatest and my dream would be for him to beat Taylor and then fight me. Other than that I really can’t say as again I’m not really that interested about anything other than Winky right now.”
SB: Who was the toughest fighter, pro or amateur that you ever laced up the gloves against?
SS: “Howard Eastman who I believe was at his best while I was still developing my style, although it was a close fight.”
SB: Is there anyone out there that you really do not want to face?
SS: “No.”
SB: Over the last three to four years your career has exploded! You’ve fought twenty times, including the upcoming Winky bout…how do you do it? It’s quite honestly incredible. You, Sturm and Jeff Lacy have to be three of the busiest fighters out there. What’s the secret?
SS: “I’m only getting smarter and wiser and my body is physically peaking as I said earlier. It’s all in the work and preparation, fitness and stamina, allowing your body to naturally work harder. I also believe that because of my evasive style that I am not as battleworn as some. I have proven my ability to take a punch, but with me the target is a lot harder for my opponents to find and that helps.
SB: Can you give your candid thoughts on these fighters as possible future opponents, starting first with Bernard Hopkins?
SS: “Bernard wouldn’t know what to do with me; after six rounds he’d think he was in against four opponents.”
SB: Felix Sturm?
SS: “I have seen nothing that impresses me about Sturm and I am confident that Masoe will knock him out him early. While I haven’t seen that much of Sturm, looking at the Oscar de La Hoya fight, Masoe will land a bomb and stop him”.
SB: Edison Miranda?
SS: “I haven’t seen enough of him to pass comment.”
SB: Winky Wright?
SS: “Refer to my comments above.”
SB: Arthur Abraham?
SS: “My manager has told me a little bit about him and he sounds good, but again I haven’t seen enough of him to pass comment.”
SB: Jermain Taylor?
SS: “He has never wanted to fight me, I would handle Jermain easier than most mentioned.”
SB: Howard Eastman?
SS: “He is past his best and I can’t see him coming back into contention, but he wouldn’t stand a chance the second time around.”
SB: What have been some of your favorite fights of the last two or three years to watch and do you see anyone coming up in the ranks that impresses you?
SS: “Ricardo Torres at twenty five I believe has a great future in the sport, he impressed me with his fight against Miguel Cotto and I believe that he will only get better from this fight. Again, I really only study those boxers who are likely to be facing me in my next fight or two. Locally in Australia, you have guys like Jamie Pittman, Anton Solopov and Daniel Geale that are demonstrating that they have big careers ahead of them.”
SB: What would you like to tell your fans and critics?
SS: “I will just let my fists do the talking for the critics and to my fans I’d like to say thank you so much for believing in me and for your continued support.”
