Sam Goodman’s message for the critics as he plans on world title blockbuster with Naoya Inoue

Sam Goodman has hit back at the critics who claim he ducked Naoya Inoue, says “if you listen to the fans, you’ll be sitting with them” and expects to take on the Japanese superstar in December.

Sam Goodman has hit back at critics suggesting he ducked Naoya Inoue, and says he fully expects to fight the Japanese superstar for all the super-bantamweight belts in December.

Goodman went face-to-face with Inoue in an unscripted in-ring encounter following ‘The Monster’s’ win over Luis Nery in May.

It seemed as though the pair were on track for a 122-pound undisputed world title fight next up, but Goodman denies that’s the case.

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Even when they went face-to-face in May, Goodman already had a fight lined up in July, with Inoue booked in to fight again in September.

Despite being the number one ranked contender with the WBO and IBF, Goodman is still waiting on those sanctioning bodies to make him Inoue’s mandatory.

Sam Goodman expects to fight Naoya Inoue in December. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Meanwhile, the WBA ordered Inoue to defend against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, although the Japanese star’s promoter, Bob Arum, suggests he’ll most likely fight Ireland’s TJ Doheny in September.

Goodman, who scored a one-sided win over Doheny last year, copped criticism for fighting the dangerous Chainoi Worawut in Wollongong in July instead of pursuing Inoue immediately, but hit back at critics this week.

“I don’t ready any of the comments – if you listen to the fans, you’ll be sitting with them,” Goodman told this masthead. “We flew to Japan on our own back and it was just a scouting mission.

“There was nothing planned about getting into the ring with Inoue. He just spotted us and called us into the ring.

“It was really just to put my face out there, but the talks while we were over there were always about fighting him in December.

Naoya Inoue is one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters on the planet. Picture: Kyodo News via Getty Images

“I was already booked in to fight in July and it’s not the smartest thing to go and book another fight in September (against Inoue).

“It’s outrageous to book two fights in advance. I’ve got a tough opponent ahead of me and if I don’t give this guy the respect he deserves, it’ll be the biggest banana skin ever.

“So, I don’t pay attention to whatever people are saying.”

Goodman is fully expecting to fight Inoue for all the belts in December.

“I was one of the names he listed that he wanted to fight, and I’m one of the top guys in the division and the top ranked guy with two of the organisations,” he said. “There’s no one else ranked like that.

“I know I’m at the top, and I know it’s just a matter of time before I get my shot.

“I just hope he gets through the fight in September with no injuries and that he’s ready to go in December so we can get it on.”

Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev could get a shot at Inoue before Goodman does. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Aussie believes the 12-1 Akhmadaliev will give Inoue a tougher fight than many people are expecting too.

“Inoue’s not a big guy, he’s not a big super-bantamweight at all,” he said. “So it’s going to be interesting, because MJ is a fully-fledged super bantamweight.

“He’s a thick guy and a strong opponent. Early on, it’s going to be a tough fight, but I think MJ just walks away from what he does well quite quickly, and I think Inoue will take over later.

“MJ is very physical, and has a hard style to pick up – he’s strong from long range. But I think he does fall apart a bit. But I do rate him, besides Inoue, I think he’s my hardest fight in the division.”

Originally published as Sam Goodman’s message for the critics as he plans on world title blockbuster with Naoya Inoue