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Revealed: Sam Goodman fought eight rounds with two fractures in his left hand

Jeff Fenech has hailed Sam Goodman for his toughness after fighting eight rounds with two fractures in his hand.

Sam Goodman fought eight rounds with a broken hand. Picture. No Limit Boxing
Sam Goodman fought eight rounds with a broken hand. Picture. No Limit Boxing

X-rays have confirmed boxer Sam Goodman had to overcome the excruciating pain of a double fracture in his left hand to keep his world title dream alive.

Goodman fought the last four rounds against previously unbeaten Thai fighter Chainoi ‘Rock Man’ Worawut without the use of his left hand on Wednesday night, hiding the injury from his corner.

He had to win to stay on course for a potential $3 million pay day against undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in December.

Sam Goodman shows off his injured hand before getting scans on Friday.
Sam Goodman shows off his injured hand before getting scans on Friday.
X-rays confirmed Goodman had to overcome a double fracture in his left hand.
X-rays confirmed Goodman had to overcome a double fracture in his left hand.

X-rays of his heavily swollen left hand have since revealed the double fracture.

Boxing legend Jeff Fenech has himself fought with a broken bone in his hand and couldn’t believe what Goodman was able to do.

“You have no idea how painful it is,” Fenech, who was ringside at the fight, says. “I’ve got so much respect for Sam for what he did.

“It’s not football. You can’t go in the sheds and get a painkilling injection.

“And you can’t fight one-handed either.

“Sam’s so courageous. And he’ll have to be because Inoue, in my opinion, is the best pound for pound fighter in the world.”

Goodman revealed he first realised something was wrong after just four rounds, and was forced to battle on through the debilitating pain.

“It was cooked in the fourth round, and it hurt again in the sixth,” he said.

“I hit him with a good left hook in the ninth round and it really didn’t feel good at all.

“It caused a few dramas, and I had to throw the back hand a bit more, but we got through it and won the fight.”

Goodman was in excruciating pain whenever he landed a left hand. Picture. No Limit Boxing
Goodman was in excruciating pain whenever he landed a left hand. Picture. No Limit Boxing

Goodman’s courageous performance kept his hopes of an undisputed world title fight against Inoue alive, and he started his preparations immediately after beating Worawut.

While his rowdy supporter crew, known as ‘The Mad Bunch’, partied into the night at his parents’ place, Goodman didn’t have a single celebratory alcoholic drink after fight.

Instead, he celebrated with some Krispy Kreme doughnuts and slept at his Nan’s house, before watching the England-Netherlands European Championship semi-final at 5am the next morning.

Goodman will stay fit while his hand heals, before ramping up preparations for Inoue.

“If I take on Inoue, I’ll go into that fight very confidently,” he said. “I’ll watch this fight back and see where we can improve, then take that into the next test.

“And Inoue is the ultimate test.”

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/combat-sport/revealed-sam-goodman-fought-eight-rounds-with-two-fractures-in-his-left-hand/news-story/dfa3ca1509926bc81d95b053b0aabdea