Sam Goodman details financial woes triggered by million-dollar bust
Sam Goodman had just closed on a new house when his million-dollar payday went up in smokes. It left him scrambling to make ends meet.
Boxing/MMA
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Sam Goodman was so broke after missing out on a seven-figure payday and a world title showdown with Naoya Inoue that he resorted to stealing dog food from Coles.
Goodman made the stunning revelation moments after his emotional comeback win over Cesar Vaca at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night.
The unlucky boxer had closed on a Central Coast house ahead of his scheduled world title blockbuster with Inoue in December, before two cuts to his eye robbed him of his big-money world title shot.
It left the 26-year-old struggling to make ends meet as he waited for the injury to heal before fighting again.
“I’ve had to steal dog food from Coles, so there’s a headline for ya! My dog wasn’t eating if I didn’t,” an emotional Goodman told Code Sports. “Mate, I was flat out f**ing broke.
“I mean not a dollar.
“Home loans coming out my arse, snipping everyone I know, borrowing money off this person, off that person.
“Mate, it has been f***ing hell. I’ve had to rely on some people around me to help get me through this and, mate, if I didn’t have ‘em, I’d be f***ed.”
He also cops online abuse from Japanese boxing fans who claim he ducked the Inoue fight, but Goodman says he still wants that world title showdown.
“I want the shot at Inoue, I want my chance,” he said. “I’m not saying he’s dodging or anything like that.
“What happened to me, it was shit, it was terrible.
“People are saying I’m ducking and dodging, but mate, that has financially f***ed me.
“It crippled me for six months of my life.
“Honestly, the stress that has been put on me and my family, it’s massive.”
While Inoue’s next three fights are seemingly booked – and don’t involve Goodman – the Aussie’s classy one-sided win over Vaca puts him into contention for an interim IBF or WBO title fight.
There were plans to have that bout on Tim Tszyu’s world title rematch with Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas in July, but a pair of cuts suffered on Wednesday likely ruined those hopes.
Goodman was cut under his left eye by a wild left hook, before a ninth round headbutt opened another gash above his right eye.
Meanwhile, Harry Garside is eyeing up fights with domestic stars Liam Paro and Liam Wilson, rather than Sydney upstart Ahmad Reda.
Speaking after his impressive comeback win over Charlie Bell, Garside once again dead-batted any questions about Reda, who has been pursuing him for almost two years.
Garside beat the 22-year-old in the Paris Olympic trials, and Reda has been demanding a rematch ever since.
As first reported by Code Sports last week, No Limit will start positioning Garside for a domestic blockbuster with either former world champion Paro, or former two-time world title contender Wilson.
“I want to fight some of the best in the country, and I’m not even sure if Ahmad’s there,” said Garside, who had to fight through his own cut after a first round head clash.
“I want to be fighting people like Liam Wilson, who’s an amazing athlete and a good mate of mine, but he’s one of the best in the country.
“Liam Paro, an amazing athlete too.
“Ahmad’s only popular because he says my name and he’s entertaining. Until he has something of value, he’s just popular because he’s saying my name.
“I want to fight the people who are doing something internationally.
“I’m not there yet, but I’m hoping in the next 12 to 13 months I can get to their level.”
Reda’s fight on Wednesday’s card was pulled at the last moment, but the Sydneysider’s next fight will be a mouth-watering Australian lightweight title fight with Billy Polkinghorn, loosely scheduled for August.
Paro is scheduled to return in late June on a linear show in Queensland, and has eyes on getting back to a world title.
“We want to get belts again, so it’s going to be an international opponent,” Paro said on Wednesday. “With the opponents that are getting thrown around, one dominating win will put us back in the seat for another title shot.
“Two-time world champion has a good ring to it.”
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