Former super middleweight title challenger Sam Soliman outpointed odds favorite Felix Sturm with a close unanimous decision over the former three-time middleweight beltholder in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Friday.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Soliman upsets Sturm with unanimous decision in Germany
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Former super middleweight title challenger Sam Soliman outpointed odds-favorite Felix Sturm with a close unanimous decision over the former three-time middleweight beltholder in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Friday. Soliman (43-11, 17 knockouts), had to survive a second-round knockdown and rocky moments after being floored by a Sturm right hand, to outwork and outpoint the better technician by scores of 116-111, 114-113 and 114-113. The 39-year-old Australian veteran won his eighth consecutive bout and earned a mandatory shot at fellow Aussie and IBF middleweight titleholder Daniel Geale, who recently outpointed Anthony Mundine, the last man to beat Soliman. Sturm (37-4-2, 16 KOs) lost his second consecutive bout. The 34-year-old veteran dropped a hotly contested split decision to Geale last September.
Photo / Dennis Grombkowski-Bongarts |