17.07.04 – By Tony Nobbs: Middleweight Sam Soliman spent five days training on the Gold Coast a fortnight ago in preparation for todays IBF eliminator with old foe Raymond Joval in Los Angeles. While on the sunshine state’s holiday strip, the Victorian fighter worked with seasoned trainer Rod Waterhouse. “Training up here is good for climate as I’ll be going from a Melbourne winter to a California summer” said ‘King’ Soliman.
“Rod’s really great to work with. He’s passionate about what he does, he’s not just in the gym like he has to be there – he really wants to help. He’s shown me a few things that have worked when I’ve been boxing in the gym up here. After this fight, I’ll come back here”.
Soliman also said his fitness for this fight has “gone through the roof!” Mentor Dave Hedgecock has been putting him through daily fifteen round drills. “I thought I was fit before but the stuff Dave has me doing for this fight, I will be able to fight for twelve rounds non stop. I’m sparring, two, three sparing partners a day, my workrate in the last round is as good as it is in the first and I feel I can do more. Dave has me training like they did back when he was fighting”.
Good guy Sam is certain he will defeat Dutchman Joval who won a “hometown” decision over him in January 2001 in Amsterdam. In that bout, Joval’s IBO title was on the line. For the rematch the pot of gold for the winner is a mandatory shot at the winner of September’s Hopkins – De La Hoya super fight. “I told Joval after I fought him last time I would get a rematch with him on neutral ground. Here we are three and a half years later doing it. I know I beat him in his own town, he won’t beat me without his own judges”.