Wright’s unanimous decision victory tougher than most thought.
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
No one gave Australia’s Sam Soliman a chance against former undisputed 154lb. world champion Ronald "Winky" Wright. No chance of surviving, let alone winning, against one of boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighters; who in his most recent bout had totally dominated future hall of famer Felix Trinidad.
The lone exception amongst the 4,682 in attendance at the spectacular Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. may have been fellow Aussie boxer Robbie Peden.
"If Sam can back Winky Wright up, he will win the fight," exclaimed the excessively congenial Peden, who has sparred many rounds with Soliman and reminisced about the painful experience, "man, you can’t figure Sam out. Punches from every direction and every angle. Unbelievably tough guy!"
Needless to say, Soliman wasn’t able to back Wright up; but he sure tried!
Throwing an unbelievable 1,260 punches over twelve frenzied-paced rounds, Soliman perplexed the usually slick and hard to hit Wright.
Landing punches from a totally unorthodox, and ever changing style, Soliman thrilled the crowd with his never yielding resilience and fought with the heart of a champion; future champion - no doubt - if Sam Soliman continues to train and fight as he did this night.
Obviously no one told Sam Soliman that he was an 8-1 betting underdog against Wright. Winning his last nineteen fights, Soliman came into this fight confident and feeling like this was his opportunity; finally getting his shot; ironically against a fighter in Ronald Wright that had to wait years before he was ever given the chance to fight for a bout of major significance.
"I thank him (Wright) for giving me this opportunity", a beamingly proud Soliman stated at the post-fight press conference, "I’ll fight anyone - anywhere, that’s how I am and that’s how Winky is too. He’s old school - like me!"
While Soliman did all he could, and then some, it was Wright that landed the more accurate and resounding blows. Hurting Soliman with nasty body shots in the early rounds, Wright appeared to be in control. As Soliman’s totally offensive-minded fight plan made for a much better than expected contest, it also left the Melbourne, Australian native open for many of Wright’s two fisted combinations.
As the bell sounded, ending the tenth round, most of the Mohegan Sun crowd wondered how Soliman, who absorbed a tremendous beating and was hanging on the ropes, was still standing - let along racing out to start round eleven!
To his amazing credit Soliman: who was in phenomenal shape, both physically and mentally, battled on. While Wright threw the bigger punch, Soliman threw them in ridiculous abundance. Soliman, now going toe to toe with the much bigger and stronger Wright, had gained the respect of the crowd which was rooting him on.
With a body depleted of all it’s energy, Soliman relied on pure heart and guts to carry him the final three minutes. As the four thousand strong erupted, thirsting a big finish to an already sensational fight, Wright banged away. Sensing his foe was truly hurt, Wright swarmed. Like a lion upon his prey, Wright was intent to take this fight out of the judge’s hands. With less than thirty seconds left and Wright firing off laser-like bombs to the stricken fighter’s body and head, Soliman found an inner strength which carried him to the center of the ring, trading punches till the end.
As the judge’s scores of 115-112, 117-110 and 115-113 were announced, declaring Wright the proper victor, it was slightly regarded, no way and no chance, Sam Soliman who was being carried around the ring to the resonating cheers of respect and adulation from the appreciative and boxing smart fans.
While HBO and Winky Wright will now set their sights on a mega-dollars Pay Per View fight against undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor, Soliman may have earned the right to challenge newly crowned IBF champion Arthur Abraham for his title belt in early 2006.
Even though Soliman couldn’t convince the three judges that he wasn’t the loser last Saturday night; he proved to the 4,682 at the Mohegan Sun, the millions of viewers on HBO, and to Winky Wright; that Sam Soliman truly was a winner.
PS: Robbie Peden knew that already!