Anthony Mundine scored a ninth round knockout against Sam Soliman today in Sydney, winning the vacant WBA super middleweight title.
The 31-year old Mundine (28-3, 22 KO) knocked Soliman down once in the second round and three times in the ninth, and the fight was stopped on the three knockdown rule. Mundine simply proved too strong for the 33-year old Soliman (33-9, 13 KO), who was fighting at 168 for the first time since 2001, when he lost to Mundine via split decision.
The super middleweight division now has four noted champions in Mundine, Joe Calzaghe, Mikkel Kessler and Alejandro Berrio. Berrio (26-4) beat Robert Stieglitz by third round TKO in Germany on Saturday.
Now if we could just get Calzaghe in the ring against Kessler or even Mundine, we'd have something worth our while at 168. Rumors have already started that Calzaghe will fight Berrio if and when he defeats Peter Manfredo, Jr., next month in Wales.