Anthony Mundine Beats Sam Soliman Again

28.05.08 – by James Slater: Three times he has now beaten his Australian rival in Sam Soliman, for Anthony Mundine unanimously out-pointed his adversary in Melbourne yesterday. Defending his WBA super-middleweight title, Mundine defeated Soliman by scores of 117-112 and 116-112 twice. “The Man,” who made his fourth defence, improved his record to 32-3(23). Soliman, who fans will of course remember from T.V show “The Contender,” fell to 35-11(13)..

Though he retained his belt for the fourth time, it appears as though Mundine will now vacate the WBA championship and possibly move down to middleweight where the Australian is reportedly interested in fights with Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright and Arthur Abraham. Mundine was told by the WBA that he must accommodate mandatory challenger Mikkel Kessler within 90 days of his fight with Soliman or vacate. It seems, from word coming out of Australia, that the 33-year-old will indeed give up his title.

It’s not that Mundine fears Kessler, simply that he wants what he calls “bigger challenges.” Of course, Kessler and his people would disagree and say that Mundine is avoiding a return match with “The Viking Warrior,” after Kessler beat the Australian on points back in June of 2005. Should Mundine indeed give up the WBA belt, Kessler’s June 21st fight with Dimitri Sartison will contest the vacant championship.

Mundine has come a long way since his 10th round stoppage loss to Sven Ottke. After losing to Ottke in 2001, in an IBF super-middleweight title bid, “The Man” went on to capture the vacant WBA title at 168 pounds with a points win over Antwun Echols in 2003. Making one successful defence, Mundine then lost his title to Manny Siaca the following year. Since that split decision loss Mundine has won all of his fights except the one with Kessler.

Regaining the once again vacant WBA belt in 2007, with a 9th round stoppage of the man he has now beaten three times in Soliman, Mundine has now kept it for well over a year. It seems he will now relinquish it though.

There are a number of attractive options for Mundine at middleweight, especially a quite mouth-watering possibility of a fight with the always exciting Kelly Pavlik. No doubt an announcement will be made in the coming days about who the 33-year-old Aussie will fight.

As for the 34-year-old Soliman, who has now lost two decisions and a TKO to Mundine, the future looks less appealing.