World title contender, Sam Soliman outpointed the Contender Australia winner Garth ‘From the Hood’ Wood on Sunday afternoon at Sydney Olympic Park with a 12 round unanimous decision in a scrappy affair which resembled a wrestling match.
A 12th round knockdown sealed the deal for the Melbourne based boxer who claimed the interim IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight title by the scores of (117-111, 119-110, 118-111).
Soliman scored with his jab while Wood under new trainer Joel Keegan showed glimpses of a new style landing some good right hands but the 33 year old Sydney resident was unable to keep up with the experience of Soliman.
The win moves Soliman into the number 1 contender spot for the IBF Middleweight title, with Daniel Geale facing his mandatory, Adama next month in Tasmania.
Yao Yi Ma continues rise with technical knockout win
Australian based Light Middleweight, Yao Yi Ma has claimed his biggest scalp with a knockout victory over 34 year old South African, Virgil Kalakoda for the IBF Pan Pacific title.
Kalakoda was tagged in round 3 and almost knocked out again in round 5, before Ma had the South African on the ropes in round 8.
Ma landed a big left hook during round 8 which sent Kalakoda against the ropes with the referee applying an 8 count. Ma went in for the kill and the corner of Kalakoda threw in the towel.
The win was the Taiwan born, Yi Ma’s tenth win with seven of those coming by the way of knockout. After the fight Kalakoda announced his retirement after fighting for 17 years.
Sam Ah See decisions Cabuy in rematch
20 year old up and coming Light Middleweight, Sam Ah See decisioned Indonesian, Aswin Cabuy over 6 rounds in a rematch from their October draw.
The last time they met which was on the Mundine vs Alvarez undercard, Cabuy was cut from an accidental headclash with the fight being declared a technical draw.
After a slow start by Ah See in the opening round he found his range and grew in confidence keeping Cabuy on the back foot to claim the unanimous decision win.
Full Results:
- Sam Soliman def Garth Wood via unanimous decision 117-114, 118-110, 110-109
- Yao Yi Ma def Virgil Kalakoda via TKO round 8, 1:42
- Sam Ah See def Aswin Cabuy via unanimous decision
- Peter Brennan def Michael O’Donnell via unanimous decision
- Ben McCulloch def Atalili Fai via knockout
- Joey Williams drew with Jacques Hendrisson
- Chokchana Sithkrupon def Peter Kazzi via unanimous decision
Photos by Peter McDermott and Milenko Klisic
