Sam Goodman vs Naya Inoue fight called off again after injury

Aussie boxer Sam Goodman has been left broken hearted after he was forced to withdraw from a world title fight for the second time.

Australian boxer Sam Goodman’s world title fight against Naya Inoue has once again been called off after he suffered another head cut in training.

The 26-year-old was originally slated to fight the Japanese boxing megastar on Christmas Eve but suffered a cut above his left eye.

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The fight was then postponed until January 24, but Goodman has been forced to withdraw after suffering a recurrence to his eye injury.

Goodman has reportedly been left “distraught” with Fox Sports revealing he is set to undergo plastic surgery for the cut.

No Limit Boxing confirmed in a statement that the upcoming bout had been called off with no date set for a potential fight in the future.

“No Limit Boxing regrets to announce that Sam Goodman has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled bout against Naoya Inoue on January 24 due to a recurrence of his eye injury,” the statement read.

“We wish Sam a full and speedy recovery and will provide updates on the event in due course.”

Sam Goodman injured at boxing session. Photo: Brendan Bradford

Sam Goodman injured at boxing session. Photo: Brendan Bradford

Goodman re-injured his eye on Saturday morning with No Limit Promoter Matt Rose sharing his devastation for the Aussie boxer.

“It’s just devastating,” Rose said to Fox Sports.

“After everything Sam went through the first time around, and now to have it happen again … I really don’t know what to say.

“There aren’t any words. The amount of time everyone has put into this. All the sacrifices Sam has made. It only happened this morning.

“We’ll now have to try and get him in for plastic surgery in the next 24 hours to have any hope of ensuring this mends.

“For this to open like it has again, he’s obviously got soft skin there that we need to look at.

“It’s just devastating.”

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 28: Sam Goodman poses during a training session at Lodge Cronulla on June 28, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Goodman suffered the initial cut to his eye during a sparring session in December, it was his final session before he was set to fly out to Japan.

The sparring session was being filmed and heartbreaking footage captures the moment Goodman was told he was bleeding. He could be heard saying “F***” and the look on his face as he paced around the ring said it all.

The latest setback is a devastating blow for Goodman and leaves his world title hopes in potential tatters.

As he prepares to have the cut fixed up, the boxing world will wait to see if he’ll be given another chance or if the Inoue camp will move on to another fighter.