Soliman takes Garth Wood to Sunday School

By Glenn Mitchell

They billed it as Sunday Bloody Sunday - perhaps an unfortunate choice by the promoters - but really this was an illustration of how one fighter took another to Sunday School for a much needed lesson.

The Sam Soliman-Garth Wood fight in Sydney was unusual in so many aspects except one: There were three people in the ring and only one knew seemed to know what he was doing. Wood seemed intent on adopting tactics akin to a rugby league match - and understandably he probably thought that was his best chance of winning - while the referee seemed to be adjucating the fight as such.

Soliman however was in there to box. And box he did despite the body slams, tackles and bull rushes employed by Wood. Yet each time Wood used these tactics, Soliman retained his composure and then landed a series of combinations that sent a clear message to Wood: Continue to do that and you will be punished. And punish him he did.

A conservative estimate of the number of punches landed was a three to one ratio in Sam's favour per round and that is being generous to Wood. On this basis, Wood landed one punch per round. And speaking of schools, there was a certain chap wearing a bow tie in the ring who might need to go back to his books to learn how to referee a fight. Many at ringside felt he lost control of the fight.

Soliman arguably put Wood on the deck four times, yet only once was a knock down ruled. Sam hit Wood with a beautiful right in the 9th yet no count was applied. Maybe there was a mysterious gust of wind through the venue at the time!

Of the four "knock downs" - three ruled as slips or falls - the only count was given in the final round and that was arguably the least decisive of the four.

Soliman's combinations - particularly Sam's jabs and uppercuts, pummelled Wood. They continually rocked Wood who looked more like a wrestler trying to box while Soliman remained the consummate professional using the angles to take advantage of Wood's front on style. The perfect example was the right in the 9th round. Wood had his feet planted and when Sam nailed him, he couldn't ride the punch and was clearly sent to the deck only for it to be ruled a slip.

It was obvious from the second round that Wood was out of his depth but credit to him for taking on a world-class fighter in Soliman and credit to Sam for giving Wood a shot. Another anomaly was the scoring of the fight. While two judges gave Soliman an overwhelming points decision - 119-109, 118-110 - one judge scored the fight 117-114. But you get that in away games.

Nonetheless, it was another classy display from Soliman. His composure, his combinations and his defence - when he needed it - were there for all to see. Soliman is such a difficult fighter to hit and that probably explains why Wood used the tactics he did. Maybe he knew he could not hit Sam - and he couldn't - so adopting the bullocking style was, perhaps, he felt was his only chance.

However, given Sam's experience in the square ring and the quality of fighters he has taken on and beaten, Wood's tactics were one-dimensional and seemingly borne of desperation. That was evident after the second round.

Now Sam believes "There's is nothing in front of us now, thank Christ for that" (meaning a title fight with IBF champion Daniel Geale). But the fight game, with its often-maddening idiosyncrasies, is not that easy or straightforward.

Soliman's manager David Stanley said; "Some in boxing circles said the Wood fight was too risky for Sam to take because in December the Australian middleweight ranking had Geale as world champion, Wood as number 2 and Sam at number 3."

"Now Wood has been eliminated from that equation and Sam is looking forward to a title fight with Geale following his unanimous points decision over Osumanu Adama." But Geale says he is looking to fight in America. Nonetheless Sam will continue to focus on a possible fight with Geale.

With these permutations in mind, the one constant and certainty through this jungle (and that's really what it is), is Sam Soliman - the fighter and the man. No matter how many hurdles he is forced to scale or how many hoops he is expected to jump through, Sam will not take his eyes off the world title. You get the feeling Sam would walk through fire to get it.

If he does at 39 years of age, Sam "King"" Soliman will have tamed the jungle.

The Contender

Sam Soliman Vs. Max Alexander on the US television show, The Contender.