Sam Goodman on track for biggest pay day of his career as he plots a world-title boilover of pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue

He is known as ‘The Ghost’. Now Australia’s Sam Goodman is ready to spook the world’s best fighter, Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue, and pocket millions.

Sam Goodman has enlisted the help of three of Australia’s best fighters and embarked on a Queensland mini-camp to help prepare ‘The Ghost’ for one of the biggest bouts in the nation’s history.

Goodman’s promoters No Limit believe the gateway to $10 million pay days will open if Australia’s No.1 super bantamweight upsets Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue in their undisputed world-title blockbuster on Christmas Eve in Japan.

Inoue is called ‘The Monster’ for a reason, with the 31-year-old widely regarded as boxing’s pound-for-pound king, a four-division world champion who has won 25 of his 28 fights by knockout.

Sam Goodman says he is ready to shock the world in his world-title blockbuster against Naoya Inoue.

Most pundits give Goodman no hope. It’s the way the pint-sized pugilist from the NSW south coast likes it.

Leaving no stone turned, the Albion Park product has travelled north to Brisbane for sparring with world-class Australians Liam Wilson and the Moloney twins, Andrew and Jason, in his quest to silence the Monster.

If anyone can appreciate the ferocious power of Inoue, it is Jason Moloney, who waged war for seven rounds in 2020 before becoming another hapless victim of the Japanese juggernaut.

Determined to help Goodman, Moloney joined forces with Wilson and his twin for a week of intense sparring, fuelling The Ghost’s belief that he has the skill and footwork to shock the world.

“This is my shot at greatness,” said Goodman, who is unbeaten from 19 fights.

“People say Inoue can’t be beaten but I’m not going in there to just roll over.

Japan's Naoya Inoue (left) is regarded as the best fighter in the world today.

“I understand how great a fighter he is. It really doesn’t get any bigger than this.

“Beating him would change my life overnight.

“I like testing myself and I like rolling the dice.

“That’s when I perform at my best.

“This is a massive chance to be undisputed champion of the world and I honestly believe I will be his toughest test yet.

“Everything I have done has led me to this moment.”

Goodman’s manager Peter Mitrevski said the 26-year-old could not ask for more than sparring with Wilson, a two-time world-title challenger, and the Moloneys, who have scaled the summit.

“It was a brilliant hit out for Sam,” Mitrevski said. “The Moloney boys were great and Liam was a bigger guy for Sam, which helps prepare him for the presence and power of Inoue.

“A lot of people give Sam no hope but I believe he’s fitter than Inoue and he has the skill to beat him.”

Goodman is currently ranked Australia’s No.3 pound-for-pound fighter, behind only world champions Liam Paro and Jai Opetaia, and will face Inoue fully fit and with no excuses.

Jason Moloney, who has fought Inoue, has been helping Sam Goodman in sparring.

The Ghost broke his hand in two places in his last bout against Chainoi Worawut in July but says he has made a complete recovery.

No Limit boss Matt Rose says Goodman beating Inoue would be on a par with Jeff Horn’s epic upset of Manny Pacquiao in 2017 and be a financial bonanza.

“If he wins, we’re talking huge millions, a re-match alone with Inoue would be worth $10 million. This can change Sam’s life forever,” Rose said.

“If he wins, it’s probably the greatest win by an Aussie I can think of - certainly up there with the Jeff Horn-Pacquiao moment.

“Inoue has massive power but outside of that, Sam has the footwork, the pressure and the ring IQ to test Inoue.

“Outside of Inoue, Sam Goodman is the next best fighter in their division, so this is one versus two taking each other on.

“This would be the greatest win by an Aussie that I can think of.”

Originally published as Sam Goodman on track for biggest pay day of his career as he plots a world-title boilover of pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue