Boxing: Sam Goodman’s vow to beat Naoya Inoue and return to Australia as undisputed champion
Sam Goodman vows to be his “own Santa Claus” this Christmas as he looks to shock the world against Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue and become the undisputed super-bantamweight champion.
Sam Goodman vows to be his “own Santa Claus” this Christmas as he looks to shock the world against Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue and become the undisputed super-bantamweight champion.
While he’s swapping the Australian heat for the cold Tokyo winter, Goodman will also be leaving behind his loyal supporters the ‘mad bunch’ as he heads into enemy territory.
But, the 26-year-old Wollongong local isn’t worried about the Japanese crowds, saying “I won’t be paying too much attention” to the home fans.
“It’s a different set up … it’s not rowdy at all,” Goodman said.
“We went to (his) fight at the Tokyo Dome and for 55,000 people, it wasn’t that loud at all, but it’s a very respectful culture.”
Many in the boxing world consider Inoue to be at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings or thereabouts, and despite the tough test ahead, Goodman admitted he’s barely made any changes to his usual routine.
“I’d love to tell you there’s a secret sauce or there’s something secret that we’re doing that’s going to change anything, but there’s not,” he said.
“It’s all about consistency and putting in work and doing as much of it and more than I ever have before.”
Goodman’s dedication, however, is unwavering, saying he is working to “absolute exhaustion” in his bid to be the first man to take Inoue’s zero.
With the fight set for Christmas Eve, Goodman’s family are packing their bags for a Japanese white Christmas but for the 26-year-old it’s “just business as always”.
“I’ve missed plenty of Christmas’s since I have been boxing … it’s just another fight,” he said.
“I get to worry about Christmas when I’ve got all those belts around me.”
So much so, Goodman is determined to be his “own Santa Claus”, saying he “won’t be leaving Japan without those belts”.
“I don’t see anything to do other than that … it’s my mission, that’s been my goal since I got into this sport,” he said.
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Although it’s not lost on Goodman that “many have tried and many have failed” he’s declared “I’m the best guy in the division”.
“It’s that simple … I know that when I bring my best, I can beat anyone,” he said.
“I think it will be no different come Christmas Eve … it’s about backing what I do.”
Originally published as Boxing: Sam Goodman’s vow to beat Naoya Inoue and return to Australia as undisputed champion
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