Knee injury forces Soliman out of bout with Antoine Douglas

 
SAM Soliman has been forced to withdraw from his March 5th date with Antoine Douglas.

 
A niggling knee injury has stopped the former middleweight titleholder from fulfilling his contractual duties against undefeated middleweight Antoine Douglas, which due to take place at the Sands Bethlehem Event Center.

 
“Sam is bitterly disappointed,” said Soliman’s manager David Stanley. “But we view it as a temporary setback,”

 
“Postponing the fight is the right thing to do, as it makes no sense to fight injured, particularly at this level,”

 
“We feel for Antoine Douglas’s team, but that’s the ups and downs of boxing,”

 
“This is only a delay, as Sam has his sights set on taking on Douglas, who we know is a savvy and hungry boxer.”

 
“Sam’s doctors have said Sam needs immediate arthroscopic surgery on his knee and he will be back in full training within six weeks and ‘fight fit’ eight weeks after that.”

 
“Once our US fight commitment is completed, there are negotiations for a very exciting opportunity later in the year. The risk of fighting injured, against medical advice would also impact on this opportunity. ”

 
Despite the postponement, Soliman, 42, is optimistic he will make a return to full fitness in the near future.

 
“I was powering along, and was in what I considered the best form of my career,” said Soliman.

 
“But I’m taking onboard the advice of medical experts and am going to get myself right again,”

 
“I’m no shirker, but I would’ve been letting myself and my fans down if I went into a fight knowing I was injured.”

 
 
Words: Press Release
Photo: Provided