By Tony Nobbs: Anthony Mundine retained his WBA regular super middleweight strap for the fourth time (in this his second reign) with a unanimous decision over a gallant Sam Soliman at the Vodafone Arena in Melbourne tonight.
In an almost mirror image to their still highly controversial first encounter seven years ago, Melbourne’s Soliman out worked the Sydney champion only to be denied at the end of a fast paced bout. The verdict, however, was a right one, though many of the crowd and Soliman’s supporters disagreed, with Soliman having a look of bewilderment when the result was announced.
Anthony controlled the middle stanzas and edged the final two, while Sam had his best rounds in two, three, nine and ten. Neither man looked in any real bother, however both were caught by clean punches, Mundine’s the more telling. Judges: 116 – 112 (x 2) and 117-112 Mundine. Eastside’s score: 116 -112 Mundine.
With Mundine talking about a move south to 160 lbs, Sam’s best weight, could there be a three – peat ?
In under card bouts, local hope Daniel Porky Lovett (ANBF # 1), well taught by the venerable Jimmy Slatter, took home the vacant PABA light heavyweight belt, scoring a four round TKO (cut) over near by Geelong’s Kane Mc Kay (ANBF #7) in what was up to that point quite an exciting scrap.
Strong young Sydney sider Kerry Foley (ANBF # 9) knocked out Kashif Mumtaz from New Zealand, in round two at light heavyweight. A right hand finishing matters.
Filipino Ariel Omongos, rated number 9 by the ANBF upset former Aussie junior lightweight champ Ahmed Elomar scoring a four round knockout at lightweight.
In a one sided, but entertaining welterweight four rounder, Nigeria’s Melbourne based Oyewale Omotoso Stopped tough Thai Kromsat Sithkrupon in the final heat.
Melbourne’s Aussie junior middleweight champ Frank Lo Porto had an easy time halting Fiji’s Sudesh Sharma in the opening three minutes.