Australian boxer Sam Goodman's long-awaited world title fight against Naoya Inoue has been canceled for a second time due to injuries. Despite the setback, Goodman retains his position as mandatory challenger for both the IBF and WBO titles, paving the way for a future world championship bout.
Recovering Australian boxing star Sam Goodman has received a much-needed boost after being informed by his team that both the IBF and WBO plan to keep him as their mandatory world title challenger. Once confirmed by the sanctioning bodies, this news means the 26-year-old is poised to return in a super bantamweight world title fight, with a target date of late May or early June.
Initially, Goodman was scheduled to face undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in a highly anticipated bout, which was postponed due to an injury sustained by Goodman during his final sparring session. The fight, originally slated for December 24th, was then pushed back to January 24th in Tokyo. However, Goodman's injury resurfaced, leading to the South Korean boxer Ye Joon Kim stepping in as a replacement opponent to ensure Inoue's undisputed title defense proceeded as planned. The setback was deeply disheartening for Goodman, who even contemplated retiring from boxing. While the disappointment of missing out on the life-changing payday of over a million dollars remains, a new path forward is now emerging.Inoue, the undisputed champion and the biggest draw in the division, remains the primary target for Goodman and his team. Securing another opportunity to challenge the Japanese superstar is their top priority. However, Inoue is a highly sought-after fighter. The WBA is pushing for their mandatory challenger, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, to secure a title shot. Additionally, there is significant pressure for Inoue to fight in lucrative markets like the United States and Saudi Arabia. A potential showdown between Inoue and bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani could become the biggest event in Japanese boxing history. If Team Goodman and promoters No Limit are unable to negotiate a rematch against Inoue, and he chooses to vacate the titles for which Goodman is mandatory, the Australian could potentially return in a vacant world title fight. Regardless of the outcome, Goodman's future appears brighter than it did just a few days ago
Boxing Sam Goodman Naoya Inoue Boxing World Title IBF WBO Mandatory Challenger
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