Mundine-Soliman 2 - for WBA regular title?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 07 Nov 2006, 04:26

Got zero response frm them Yanks. So I'll bring it over here, considering that Oz is founded on Brit criminals who were booted out...(for the hyper sensitive, I write that with tongue in cheek)

Mundine is top rated in the WBA. Soliman's handlers told the WBA that he was moving up & put in a request for a high WBA ranking. He got a #3 ranking, I think it was. Mundine (#1 contender) vs Soliman (#3) could be on for a rematch. This would be another hotly anticipated Oz fight.

This would be a WBA 'regular' title fight.

Lacy is WBA #2, but based on his last showing shouldn't be #2 of anything.

& I know, it perverts Kessler's title. It's a trinket fight. But it's also a big fight that will bring in a lot of interest over in Oz, just as Mundine vs Green did (was rumoured to have beaten the attendance record set by the FENECH-NELSON 2 fight).

Personally, I'm all for any big fight that will inspire the best from Choc.

Also, this gives Kessler plenty of time to recover from injury & dispatch Andrade.

Max Molyneux · Post by **Max Molyneux** » 07 Nov 2006, 05:43

Heard Soliman was robbed in the 1st fight.

Dunno, Soliman throws punches all over and Mundine quick so probably Mundine on points.

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 07 Nov 2006, 06:29

Max Molyneux wrote:Heard Soliman was robbed in the 1st fight.

Dunno, Soliman throws punches all over and Mundine quick so probably Mundine on points.

Mundine did well the first 7-8 rounds then ran out of steam, I think he will hand Soliman a beating if they fight again at this stage of there careers.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 07 Nov 2006, 06:47

I thought Mundine was moving down to 160?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 07 Nov 2006, 07:20

nickd wrote:I thought Mundine was moving down to 160?

Seems like he's left it as an option.

But with Soliman stepping up to 168, and Mundine's 'WBA regular' opportunity, Choc's mind might already be made up to stay at 168.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 07 Nov 2006, 08:23

I guess a straight 'title shot' at 168 against someone he has already 'beaten' is better than working his way into contention at 160.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 07 Nov 2006, 11:27

I just think it's a marketable fight that will get a big Oz following, and inspire the best from the combatants. Shouldn't really need a title to make the fight, but I guess they won't say no to a "genuine" world title.

Has anyone got Soliman's fights with Bika and Eastman?

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 07 Nov 2006, 12:39

viciousmaussa wrote:
nickd wrote:I thought Mundine was moving down to 160?
Seems like he's left it as an option.

But with Soliman stepping up to 168, and Mundine's 'WBA regular' opportunity, Choc's mind might already be made up to stay at 168.

I thought they had become buddies and were sparring together, rendering a fight rather unlikley?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 07 Nov 2006, 15:24

The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 18,00.html

Soliman still chasing Mundine
October 30, 2006
SAM Soliman has upped the ante in his bid to get a rematch with Anthony Mundine by moving to the super middleweight division and being ranked just two places behind "The Man".

Soliman, who described Mundine as an "Australian icon", lost a contentious split points decision to the Sydney boxer five years ago.

Victorian Soliman has grown tired of waiting for a world title crack at middleweight.

Frustrated by the WBC and WBO middleweight champion Jermaine Taylor's refusal to fight him, Soliman has successfully applied to the WBA for a super middleweight world ranking.

Based on an excellent recent record in which he has won 19 of 20 fights since losing to Mundine, the WBA ranked him No.3, just two places below Mundine.

With the WBA moving Mikkel Kessler to the status of super champion after his recent victory over Markus Beyer, the WBA's regular super middleweight belt is now vacant.

While American Jeff Lacy separates the two Australians at No.2 in the rankings, Soliman's manager Stuart Duncan hopes the WBA will sanction a fight for the vacant championship between Mundine and his charge.

Ideally, Duncan would like to see the rematch staged in Australia early next year.

Soliman, who turns 33 in two weeks, wanted to accelerate his prospects of winning a world title and, as someone who has fought in a division as heavy as cruiserweight, he was comfortable with the prospect of fighting at super middleweight.

"At the end of the day Jermaine Taylor avoided me at all costs, going up to super middleweight is no big deal," Soliman said.

"At the age of 32, I'm that close to retirement, I've only got three years left in me, so I've got to get a world title sooner than later.

"If Mundine wants to fight me I'd take the fight like that, without question, it wouldn't even be an issue, it would be any time, any place."

Soliman, who had a handful of bouts before as a super middleweight, will tackle tough Mexican Enrique Ornelas in California on November 17.

Ornelas, whom Soliman was scheduled to fight earlier in the year before the Australian was injured, boasts a very respectable record of 25 wins (15 KOs) and two losses.

It will be the first fight in eight months for Soliman, who spent part of that time working in a Bollywood movie in India.

While he lost to Mundine in a fight for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific super middleweight in Wollongong in September 2001, Soliman has developed respect for the slick Sydney fighter.

"He has become a real Australian icon in boxing and really has put his name on the map as one of Australia's best boxers," Soliman said of Mundine.

thunderfromdownunder · Post by **thunderfromdownunder** » 07 Nov 2006, 21:44

could be intresting. have both improved vastly since last meeting...id lean towards mundine though, too much speed and power

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 08 Nov 2006, 03:30

i'm hoping the wba keep jeff lacy at no2.

then we'll see just how slick and quick mundine is. lacy will chase him out of town i reckon.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 08 Nov 2006, 04:42

Lacy probably can't function against a fine boxer. He nearly came undone against Richard Grant when he was at the prospect stage. I always felt Lacy was garbage until the Reid fight. Whereas Mundine is definitely on the up.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 08 Nov 2006, 11:22

hitman_hatton1 wrote:i'm hoping the wba keep jeff lacy at no2.

then we'll see just how slick and quick mundine is. lacy will chase him out of town i reckon.

Some guys never learn....

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 08 Nov 2006, 11:34

viciousmaussa wrote:Lacy probably can't function against a fine boxer. He nearly came undone against Richard Grant when he was at the prospect stage. I always felt Lacy was garbage until the Reid fight. Whereas Mundine is definitely on the up.

i've got that fight and lacy dominates it. :x

lacy will chase mundine out of town.

bring it.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 08 Nov 2006, 11:48

hitman_hatton1 wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:Lacy probably can't function against a fine boxer. He nearly came undone against Richard Grant when he was at the prospect stage. I always felt Lacy was garbage until the Reid fight. Whereas Mundine is definitely on the up.
i've got that fight and lacy dominates it. :x

lacy will chase mundine out of town.

bring it.

I can't dispute that he deserves the W, but Lacy was piss poor and struggling like an amateur novice / headless chicken DNA hybrid at times

Andrade showed how it's done - in 1 round.

I'm starting to think that Lacy is an over muscled junior middle. Besides, no way does Lacy deserve any title shot, because he lost hislast 12 rounds certainly.

Whereas Mundine dominated a top 10 fighter, Green, and was very competitive with Kessler, perhaps the best in the division.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 08 Nov 2006, 18:28

viciousmaussa wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:Lacy probably can't function against a fine boxer. He nearly came undone against Richard Grant when he was at the prospect stage. I always felt Lacy was garbage until the Reid fight. Whereas Mundine is definitely on the up.
i've got that fight and lacy dominates it. :x

lacy will chase mundine out of town.

bring it.
I can't dispute that he deserves the W, but Lacy was piss poor and struggling like an amateur novice / headless chicken DNA hybrid at times

Andrade showed how it's done - in 1 round.

I'm starting to think that Lacy is an over muscled junior middle. Besides, no way does Lacy deserve any title shot, because he lost hislast 12 rounds certainly.

Whereas Mundine dominated a top 10 fighter, Green, and was very competitive with Kessler, perhaps the best in the division.

mundine got beat by manny siaca for god's sake.

lacy got thrashed by a fornicating good fighter in joe calzaghe.

lacy beat grant comfortably and even decked him a couple of times. andrade fought the guy 3 yrs later and with 3 yrs more wear and tear.

lacy is fighting a no6 ranked wba contender in his next fight and unless he gets beat he will maintain his rating.

i can't wait.

thunderfromdownunder · Post by **thunderfromdownunder** » 08 Nov 2006, 20:08

mundine has only started to peak in the last year or so...he would beat lacy

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2006, 05:00

hitman_hatton1 wrote:
viciousmaussa wrote:
hitman_hatton1 wrote: i've got that fight and lacy dominates it. :x

lacy will chase mundine out of town.

bring it.
I can't dispute that he deserves the W, but Lacy was piss poor and struggling like an amateur novice / headless chicken DNA hybrid at times

Andrade showed how it's done - in 1 round.

I'm starting to think that Lacy is an over muscled junior middle. Besides, no way does Lacy deserve any title shot, because he lost hislast 12 rounds certainly.

Whereas Mundine dominated a top 10 fighter, Green, and was very competitive with Kessler, perhaps the best in the division.
mundine got beat by manny siaca for god's sake.

lacy got thrashed by a smeg good fighter in joe calzaghe.

lacy beat grant comfortably and even decked him a couple of times. andrade fought the guy 3 yrs later and with 3 yrs more wear and tear.

lacy is fighting a no6 ranked wba contender in his next fight and unless he gets beat he will maintain his rating.

i can't wait.

that's the problem with boxing in this era in which perfect records are all important, a loss is meant to be a disaster.

Like Thunder says, Mundine is peaking. He's maturing, and that makes him a lot better than he used to be.

Imagine if Calzaghe were to lose a fight. He'd probably be so heartbroken that everything would come tumbling down. Calzaghe has been allowed to fester vs crap comp - for over 1/2 of his reign - & I guarantee if he loses a fight he'll never be the same.

You could say that Robin Reid already beat Calzaghe, anyway. Reid was the only one landing clean.

Mundine has only been a pro for 6 years. he's had some great learning experiences. Vs Siaca, he had a sprained ankle which everyone knew about prior to the fight.

He's improving a great deal, 'for God's sake'. Choc showed early promise by dominating Ottke for 6 or 7 rds when he was little more than a 1 year pro. & by outclassing the dangerous Echols.

He was terrific against Green, gave Kessler his only hard fight, and is one to watch.

Lacy stank against Grant. He was not dominant, he was rubbish.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 09 Nov 2006, 07:53

viciousmaussa wrote:that's the problem with boxing in this era in which perfect records are all important, a loss is meant to be a disaster.

Like Thunder says, Mundine is peaking. He's maturing, and that makes him a lot better than he used to be.

Imagine if Calzaghe were to lose a fight. He'd probably be so heartbroken that everything would come tumbling down. Calzaghe has been allowed to fester vs crap comp - for over 1/2 of his reign - & I guarantee if he loses a fight he'll never be the same.

You could say that Robin Reid already beat Calzaghe, anyway. Reid was the only one landing clean.

Mundine has only been a pro for 6 years. he's had some great learning experiences. Vs Siaca, he had a sprained ankle which everyone knew about prior to the fight.

He's improving a great deal, 'for God's sake'. Choc showed early promise by dominating Ottke for 6 or 7 rds when he was little more than a 1 year pro. & by outclassing the dangerous Echols.

He was terrific against Green, gave Kessler his only hard fight, and is one to watch.

Lacy stank against Grant. He was not dominant, he was rubbish.

your criticising lacy for losing and i just did the same with mundine. i've seen the kessler fight and i don't think he won anymore than 3 rds in that fight.

mundine likes time and space and i don't think lacy would give him that.

for what it's worth, i had calzaghe beating reid by 2 pts.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2006, 07:59

I felt Mundine won 4 rds vs Kessler. Gave him all sorts of nightmares. I had it 7-4-1. The judges were well out of order.

I admit I saw Lacy-Grant years ago, in a totally disinterested mood (you know, 'what, this man is the future at 168??'). But it did seem competitive and Lacy seemed to be struggling badly.

Librado Andrade showed how it was done. Did some beautiful work on Grant to stop him in a round.

I see Mundine-Lacy as being very like Mundine-Green. You're right, Anthony doesn't like being taken out of his own pace and can be timid. But he's looking damn good & a straight ahead pressure guy is just asking for trouble.

Now that Lacy's aura of invincibility has been ripped down - something he relied upon a lot - he will find it much harder to bully his opponents.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 09 Nov 2006, 08:18

I think Lacy will surprise a few people when he returns. Calzaghe was just unbelievable that night. I doubt Calzaghe will get anywhere near that level of performance again seriously.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 09 Nov 2006, 12:53

thunderfromdownunder wrote:mundine has only started to peak in the last year or so...he would beat lacy

Yep. There is no doubt in my mind.

Hard to believe, but Lacy is STILL overrated.

coneye · Post by **coneye** » 09 Nov 2006, 17:28

Lets not forget when Echols was the come forwrd in your face bogey man that everyone including and especially Calagzie was ducking , Mundine took him on and handled him with ease .

Point being Joe being undeafeted pro of many years schooled Lacy . Mundine was a novice fighter, only two ameteur fights and a couple of years has a pro.

Others may beat Mundine but tell ya what Mundine would beat Joe, Mundine is faster and hits harder than Joe the slapper

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 09 Nov 2006, 17:42

coneye wrote:Lets not forget when Echols was the come forwrd in your face bogey man that everyone including and especially Calagzie was ducking , Mundine took him on and handled him with ease .

Point being Joe being undeafeted pro of many years schooled Lacy . Mundine was a novice fighter, only two ameteur fights and a couple of years has a pro.

Others may beat Mundine but tell ya what Mundine would beat Joe, Mundine is faster and hits harder than Joe the slapper

what was the deal with Echols-Calzaghe?

Echols was replaced at the last minute by a really poor opponent. Can't remember if it was Miguel Jiminez, Tocker Pudwill or Will MacIntyre.

nickd · Post by **nickd** » 09 Nov 2006, 19:43

coneye wrote:Lets not forget when Echols was the come forwrd in your face bogey man that everyone including and especially Calagzie was ducking , Mundine took him on and handled him with ease .

Point being Joe being undeafeted pro of many years schooled Lacy . Mundine was a novice fighter, only two ameteur fights and a couple of years has a pro.

Others may beat Mundine but tell ya what Mundine would beat Joe, Mundine is faster and hits harder than Joe the slapper

Come on now, Mundine would not beat Calzaghe that is just stupid talk.