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Sam Soliman vs Wayne Johnsen 6.11.2007

1,669 views · Published 16 July 2016 · 24:32 · Indexed 4 October 2026

Channel: Classic Boxing Matches · 2016 · Sports

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The Bronze medal match in The Contender Season 3 final between Sam "King" Soliman and Wayne "Lights Out" Johnsen.  More info below...

Sam Soliman was a former Australian kickboxer who debuted in 1997 and won the Australian Cruiserweight title in only his second fight as a pro.  In August 1997 Soliman shed almost 25lbs so he could compete for the vacant Commonwealth Super Welterweight title but ended up losing a 12 round decision to the much more experienced Kevin Kelly.  He then lost his Australian Cruiserweight title by split decision in his next fight while only weighing 165lbs.  In 1999 Solimon won the vacant Australian Middleweight title by knocking out Fijian born Mosese Sorovi.  Later in the year Soliman attempted to add the Australian & IBF Pan Pacific Light Heavyweight titles to his waist but was outpointed by undefeated Glen Kelly over 12 rounds.  In the year 2000 Soliman won the vacant Commonwealth Middleweight title but lost it in his first defense to undefeated Howard Eastman over 12 rounds.  In 2001 Soliman got a shot at the IBO World Middleweight Champion Raymond Joval in the Netherlands and was unlucky to lose a majority decision.  In late 2001 Soliman met fellow countryman and former rugby league star, Anthony Mundine, to fight for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific Super Middleweight title.  Soliman would lose by a controversial split decision and set the stage for a home country rivalry that would last for the next 7 years.  In 2002 Soliman won the vacant IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight title and successfully defended it 7 times over the next 2 years.  In 2003 he also won the OPBF Middleweight title.  In 2004 Soliman had a rematch with IBO World Middleweight Champion Raymond Joval and won a 12 round decision, however Joval's title was not on the line this time.  In 2007, before entering The Contender tournament, Soliman was pitted against Anthony Mundine in a rematch for the vacant WBA World Super Middlweight title.  Unfortunately for Soliman he was KO'd for the first and ONLY time in his career following an uncharacteristically poor performance.  He entered the Contender tournament with a 33-9 record and was the most accomplished boxer of Season 3 however he was also one of the oldest and most felt his career was coming to an end.  In his very first match Soliman surprised everybody when he convincingly beat undefeated Max Alexander (14-0-1) by unanimous decision but then lost his semi-final match to eventual Season 3 winner and fellow Australian resident, Saiko Bika.

Wayne Johnsen had turned pro in 2003 and remained undefeated for over 2 years before suffering his first loss by a close majority decision.  Johnsen entered the Contender tournament with an impressive 16-1 record but he had no "big name" experience.  In the opening round of The Contender, Johnsen earned arguably the biggest win of his entire career by easily out pointing former WBC United States Middleweight Champion, Miguel Hernandez (20-5).  Johnsen would be surprisingly knocked out in the first round by Jaidon Codrington during the semi-finals.  

When Soliman and Johnsen finally squared off it appeared to be a complete mismatch.  Johnsen had no answer to Soliman's awkward swarming style and was easily outpointed over 6 rounds.  Johnsen surprisingly retired following The Contender finals with a 17-3 record. 

Soliman returned to Australia after The Contender and challenged Anthony Mundine for a third and final time, once again for the WBA World Super Middleweight title but came up short over 12 rounds, ending a great Australian boxing rivalry.  From 2008 to 2014 Soliman had arguably the best success of his career, proving the critics wrong who said his career was almost at an end.  In 2009 he won the vacant IBO Asia Pacific Middleweight, IBF Australasian Middleweight and WBF World Middleweight titles.  In 2010 Soliman won the IBF Pan Pacific Middleweight title for a second time and then again for a third time in 2012 when he beat The Contender: Australia winner, Garth Wood over 12 rounds. In 2013 Soliman beat former Middleweight and Super Middleweight World Champion Felix Sturm over 10 rounds however the result was changed to a no  contest when Soliman was found to have used an "illegal stimulant".  Soliman bounced back however when he won the interim PABA Middleweight title in his next fight against Les Sherrington to round out the year.  Soliman got his rematch with the newly crowned IBF World Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm in 2014...  Although Soliman was sloppy at times and even bordering on illegal, he never gave Sturm a chance to breath and ended up winning his first universally recognized World title by a 12 round unanimous decision!  Soliman would however lose his IBF World title to Jermain Taylor later in the year.  Soliman's professional record as of July 2016 currently stands at 44-13.

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