Sam Goodman (Australia), the IBF & WBO No.1 ranked super bantamweight contender with an undefeated record of 19 wins (8 KOs), has officially withdrawn from his scheduled challenge against Naoya Inoue (Ohashi Gym), the undisputed world super bantamweight champion with 28 wins (25 KOs), which was set for January 24 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. It was revealed that Goodman will be unable to fight for the next six months as he is set to undergo reconstructive surgery on his left eyelid.
Goodman sustained a laceration that required four stitches above his left eyelid during a sparring session on December 14 last year. He later requested a postponement of the title bout that was just 10 days away. Following negotiations between Hideyuki Ohashi, chairman of the Ohashi Gym, and Matt Rose, promoter of No Limit Boxing (Goodman’s team), the fight was initially rescheduled with a one-month delay.
The photo above shows Goodman’s injury from December.
Advised by his doctor to rest for four weeks, Goodman has been unable to engage in full-contact sparring, as there is a high risk of the stitched wound reopening. His sparring sessions are limited to light work for visual reacclimation only. It’s standard practice to limit the strength and type of punches thrown by his partners, with extra care taken to protect the injury.
The cause of the cut was an uppercut from below — a punch that is unnecessary during light sparring. Personally, I would never allow a sparring partner to throw such a punch under these circumstances.
To think it happened again…”
“We’re just completely devastated.”
As expressed in the words of Matt Rose, the promoter, Goodman’s camp is deeply disheartened. The shock is immeasurable. However, the fact that the wound reopened in such a short period of time cannot simply be attributed to “soft skin.”
Anyone with experience in this sport understands that cuts around the eyelid are particularly prone to reopening.
The photo above shows Goodman’s injury as of January.
In any case, this incident has drastically altered the course of Goodman’s career. He now faces more than six months out of the ring, and whether he can retain his position as the IBF & WBO No.1 contender remains a major question going forward.
Looking back, despite being offered a direct challenge by Naoya Inoue in the ring at the Tokyo Dome on May 6, 2024, Goodman declined to face him in September. Instead, on July 10, 2024, he fought Thailand’s Chainoi Worawut — ranked No.8 by the WBC — in Wollongong, Australia, winning a 12-round decision. He then chose to face Inoue in December.
As a result, the showdown with Inoue has now fallen through on three separate occasions. One might even say this was fate.
According to his promoter Matt Rose, Goodman is “in pieces.” Still only 26 years old, he has the support of many fans in Australia who are hoping for his comeback. Let’s see how his redemption story unfolds from here.
Perhaps three missed opportunities were simply Goodman’s fate.
Whether he will cross paths with Naoya Inoue again someday, or whether another big opportunity awaits him instead — only time will tell. Either way, his future remains something to look forward to.
This article has been translated and published with permission from BOXING MASTER.
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