What’s next for boxing star Sam Goodman after brutal knockout of Mark Schleibs

With untold pressure on his shoulders in front of a rowdy home crowd in a headline fight he was expected to win, Sam Goodman was flawless. It could mean big things for his future, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.

Sam Goodman celebrates his win. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Sam Goodman took a huge step on his path to becoming an Australian boxing pay-per-view star with his brutal knockout of Mark Schleibs on Wednesday night.

And, more importantly, the win puts the 25-year-old within touching distance of fighting for a long-awaited world title.

Both are crucial for the next phase of Goodman’s career.

With untold pressure on his shoulders fighting in front of a rowdy home crowd in Wollongong in a headline fight he was expected to win, Goodman was flawless.

His beat-down of a valiant Schleibs – who sold the bout spectacularly with his pre-fight bluster – was exactly the type of performance to sell Goodman to new fans.

The Wollongong local is the number one ranked super-bantamweight with the WBO and IBF and demands his world title shot this year.

Sam Goodman dominated Mark Schleibs. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Naoya Inoue is the division’s undisputed champion, and the Japanese star defends the belts against Luis Nery in May, with rumours he’ll move up to featherweight sooner or later.

No Limit CEO George Rose wants Goodman to get the next title shot, and is hopeful Inoue won’t hold up all the belts like Jermell Charlo did during Tim Tszyu’s rise.

“That’s the plan,” Rose told this masthead of organising a world title fight against Inoue. “He (Inoue) has talked about fighting three times this year, and that puts us in line for later in the year.

“Sam’s been mandatory for two years, so if Inoue decides to go up (to featherweight), we’ll push for the next shot straight away.

“Inoue’s a once in a generation fighter who’s holding the belts, and I’ll respect that, but if he goes up, he has to vacate.

“You can’t do a Charlo and hold onto the belts for two years.

“I think we’ve done well by the WBO and the IBF. He’s been an active fighter – he’s defended his WBO and IBF belts on multiple occasions and that activity puts us in good stead to earn the next shot if they are vacated.”

Pumped up after his win, Goodman said he doesn’t care who holds the belts, he’s just impatient for his world title shot.

“I’ve been mandatory for almost a year and I feel I deserve my shot,” he said. “Whoever, wherever.

“Titles. That’s what I want.”

Koen Mazoudier took down Travis Druce. Picture: No Limit Boxing

Meanwhile, Koen Mazoudier is the new frontrunner to land an Australian super-welterweight PPV headliner against Nikita Tszyu after his fifth round TKO of Travis Druce.

Tszyu is due to defend his title in late-April, but hasn’t yet locked in an opponent.

Mazoudier’s win puts him in prime position to fill that role, even if it means fighting again in a little over a month.

“Tszyu’s the Australian champion, and Mazoudier’s still the guy in the super-welterweight division,” Rose said. “It’s a great fight.

“Koen was scary today, that’s the best I’ve ever seen him look and I think that was him making a statement.

“I know Nikita wants to challenge himself. He’s the Australian champion and a guy like Koen is worthy of getting into the ring with Nikita, no doubt.”

Koen Mazoudier is chasing a fight with Nikita Tszyu. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Mazoudier has known both Tszyu brothers since childhood, but said he’s willing to put any friendships aside to fight for the belt.

“People like my style, people like his. I come to bang, he comes to bang,” he said.

“He gets hit, I get hit. I think I’m a crisper boxer, he’s probably stronger on the inside. He probably has more power, he’s very explosive and a tricky southpaw.”

Rose added that it would be hard to see either of them lose, but it is the logical fight to make.

After a tense, and sometimes ugly build-up, including slaps, pushes and nasty sledge, there was a touching moment between Goodman and Schleibs half an hour after the fight.

Just Goodman was wrapping up his post-fight press-conference, a dejected Schleibs approached the table and extended his hand in congratulations.

“Get behind this guy,” he said. “He’s the number one in the world for a reason.”

Originally published as What’s next for boxing star Sam Goodman after brutal knockout of Mark Schleibs