Goodman’s Gamble: Albion Park boxer Sam Goodman has plenty at stake in bout v ‘Rock Man’

Sam Goodman is a punter at heart. A test against undefeated Thai sensation Chainoi ‘Rock Man’ Worawut looms as his biggest gamble yet, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.

Sam Goodman only has eyes on Wednesday night’s fight. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Sam Goodman doesn’t want to hear a thing about Naoya Inoue until Thursday morning.

That’s because on Wednesday night, the Albion Park boxer risks his shot at fighting Inoue when he faces undefeated Thai sensation Chainoi ‘Rock Man’ Worawut in Wollongong.

A loss would see Goodman’s hopes of fighting for the undisputed super-bantamweight world title, and a potential $3 million payday, go up in smoke.

BOXING: GOODMAN V WORAWUT | WBC Super Bantamweight World Title Eliminator | WED 10 JULY 7PM AEST | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

So, no, Goodman isn’t treating Wednesday as a tune up for Inoue.

And no, he doesn’t feel any extra pressure knowing a world title fight could be just around the corner.

There’s already enough pressure as it is.

“I can’t think about what’s next, all I’m thinking about is Wednesday night and that’s it,” Goodman told this masthead after meeting Worawut face-to-face for the first time on Monday. “You start thinking about the next one, then you slip up and there is no fight after this.

“I feel like it’s been that way for my whole career, with people talking about what’s next.

“Everything’s always been about what’s next, but I need to get through this one. I can’t afford any slip ups, no injuries, nothing.”

Goodman is risking his chance to fight Naoya Inoue (L). Picture: Kyodo News via Getty Images

Goodman is ranked number one with the WBO and IBF, but will risk those rankings against the ‘Rock Man’ on Wednesday night.

It’s a huge gamble in every sense, but that’s nothing new for Goodman, who is a punter at heart.

Just take his appearance in the ring after Inoue’s win over Luis Nery in May.

Many fans thought it was a set-up designed to secure a fight with the Japanese superstar, but the Aussie says there was nothing scripted at all.

He was never supposed to get in the ring, and didn’t have anything scripted.

Hell, he wasn’t even supposed to be sitting ringside.

“We just hustled our way forward to get those seats,” Goodman revealed. “Our seats were in about row nine, and in true Aussie fashion, we ended up ringside.

Inoue with the sixth round knockout of Luis Nery. Sam Goodman up next by the look of it #InoueNery
pic.twitter.com/gAFwh2M9zZ

— The Counterpunch (@TCounterpunch) May 6, 2024

“I’m pretty sure we were in his wife’s seats, and when she came, we had to move over a few seats.

“Then some other family members or something came, so my manager had to pull out Google translate and say in Japanese, ‘We’re mandatory for Inoue, and we’re not moving’.

“Then we just yelled out to him and he invited us into the ring, but we definitely just hustled our way into that position.”

Goodman copped plenty of criticism for fighting Worawut instead of Inoue straight away. But he says there’s double standards after ‘The Monster’ opted to fight TJ Doheny instead of his WBA mandatory Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

Goodman put on a masterclass in beating Doheny on the Tim Tszyu-Tony Harrison undercard last year.

“He’s taking on my leftovers,” Goodman said. “When I beat TJ Doheny, everyone said he was old.

“I put him down and he ran for the rest of the fight.

Goodman has already beaten Inoue’s next opponent, TJ Doheny. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

“It’s interesting that Inoue’s not fighting MJ (Akhmadaliev), but my whole focus is on getting through this one, winning well and moving on.”

Meanwhile, Chainoi travelled to Australia with his father and uncle, who were both boxers in their younger days.

Neither of them fought on a stage as big as this one though, and Worawut is quietly confident he can turn Goodman’s gamble into a massive windfall of his own.

“Sam is confident, but he shouldn’t look past me,” he told this masthead. “This is my dream, this is my goal.

“My left hand and my right hand, they’re as strong as each other. There’s no doubt about the strength I hold in my hands.

“I’m definitely going to land, and they’re going to land hard.”

Originally published as Goodman’s Gamble: Albion Park boxer Sam Goodman has plenty at stake in bout v ‘Rock Man’