Boxing stunned by wild fight before Tim Tszyu blockbuster
Everyone was waiting for the Tim Tszyu main course but fans were treated to something special by two boxing veterans in the lead-up.
Aussie warrior Sam Soliman is being urged to retire after one of the craziest fights Australian boxing has seen in recent years.
Soliman and Sakio Bika went to war for eight rounds on the undercard of the Tim Tszyu-Dennis Hogan fight night in a battle that stole the show early on Wednesday night.
You can follow the live action of the Tszyu-Hogan blockbuster here.
Soliman was impossible to put down and at times threatened to steal a dramatic victory despite eating significant strikes every round.
Soliman came close to snatching a controversial TKO when he opened up a nasty cut above Bika’s eye.
Bika was cleared to continue after the cut was attended to and he flipped the script to dominate the late rounds.
After being trapped on the ropes in the seventh round, Soliman walked out for the final round on shaky legs.
The 47-year-old was rocked twice in the final round — and his ability to hold on until the final bell left fans and boxing commentators with their jaws dropped.
Aussie boxing legend Barry Michael praised both Bika and Soliman for their extraordinary courage, describing the fight as an “absolute war”.
Aussie boxing legend Jeff Fenech was blown away by the epic battle.
“That’s crazy,” he said in commentary for Main Event. “One of the most amazing fights I’ve ever watched … oh my god.
“I expected a great fight but not like that. That was crazy.”
Rugby league great Mark Geyer tweeted: “Sammy Soliman at 47 yrs of age! Wow! Fit as a bull.
“Wow wee! Soliman v Bika.”
The trilogy fight, happening four years after their last fight in Los Angeles, was awarded to Bika via a unanimous decision (80-73; 79-73; 78-74).
Bika, 41, praised Soliman after the fight for his incredible ability to avoid being blasted out of the ring.
Boxing commentator Paul Kent said the incredible fight was the perfect end for both fighters to hang up their gloves, after the pair delivered the most extraordinary spectacle of the entire evening.