Will
03-08-2007, 03:20 AM
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Anthony Mundine won the vacant World Boxing Association super middleweight title Wednesday, stopping fellow Australian Sam Soliman in the ninth round.
Mundine knocked Soliman down once in the second round and twice in the ninth round before referee Stanley Christodoulou intervened at 2:26 of the ninth.
It was a decisive and impressive performance by the 31-year-old Mundine, who improved to 28-3 with 22 knockouts. Soliman fell to 33-9 with 13 knockouts.
Mundine won a controversial split decision over Soliman in 2001. Two judges scored the bout for Mundine 116-114 and 115-113 while the third had Soliman ahead 115-113. Many of the pro-Soliman fans in the crowd booed the decision at the time, throwing bottles and debris into the ring.
Both boxers had improved since then. After losing his first world title shot against Sven Ottke in December 2001, Sydney-based Mundine beat American Antwun Echols to win the WBA world title on points in September 2003.
Mundine then lost the title to Manny Siaca in May 2004 after one successful defense, then lost on points to WBA champion Mikkel Kessler in June 2005.
Soliman had won 21 of 22 bouts going into Wednesday's fight against Mundine.
Mundine knocked Soliman down once in the second round and twice in the ninth round before referee Stanley Christodoulou intervened at 2:26 of the ninth.
It was a decisive and impressive performance by the 31-year-old Mundine, who improved to 28-3 with 22 knockouts. Soliman fell to 33-9 with 13 knockouts.
Mundine won a controversial split decision over Soliman in 2001. Two judges scored the bout for Mundine 116-114 and 115-113 while the third had Soliman ahead 115-113. Many of the pro-Soliman fans in the crowd booed the decision at the time, throwing bottles and debris into the ring.
Both boxers had improved since then. After losing his first world title shot against Sven Ottke in December 2001, Sydney-based Mundine beat American Antwun Echols to win the WBA world title on points in September 2003.
Mundine then lost the title to Manny Siaca in May 2004 after one successful defense, then lost on points to WBA champion Mikkel Kessler in June 2005.
Soliman had won 21 of 22 bouts going into Wednesday's fight against Mundine.