Aussie Sam Goodman’s world title fight postponed in utter ‘disaster’

Aussie Sam Goodman’s world undisputed boxing title fight against has been called off in a devastating late blow labelled a “disaster”.

Sam Goodman’s world title fight against Naoya Inoue has been postponed after the Australian suffered a cut in his last training session before he was due to fly out to Japan.

Goodman had been set to take on Japanese boxing megastar Inoue in Tokyo on Christmas Eve, with Inoue putting all his super bantamweight belts on the line in a fight to remain undisputed.

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The 26-year-old Aussie had been training the house down but in a devastating blow, suffered a nasty cut above his left eye in his final spar before he was due to head 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.

Main Event boxing commentator Ben Damon described the development on X as a “disaster”.

Damon added: “Goodman camp now pushing for a delay to scheduled Christmas Eve fight in Tokyo. Goodman was set to fly out tomorrow.”

On Saturday afternoon, Goodman’s promoters No Limit Boxing announced the fight had been rescheduled for Friday, January 24 in some welcome news.

Watch the heartbreaking Sam Goodman footage in the video above

Sam Goodman sustained a cut above his left eye. Photo: X.

Goodman’s world title fight is off. Photo: X/Brendan Bradford

It’s a devastating blow for Goodman, who was undefeated through 19 fights and had been training the house down in a bid to be ready to fight Inoue, who is nicknamed ‘The Monster’ for his ferocious knockout power.

The Aussie nicknamed ‘Mr Mandatory” had been putting his body to the brink in gruelling 14-hour days.

Goodman was an 11-1 underdog but had told news.com.au he was determined to spring a massive upset and wasn’t even entertaining the idea of a loss.

“I’m not going in there to last. I’m going in there to win. There’s nothing about lasting, you can get rid of that. It’s about winning. That’s where my head’s at,” Goodman said last month.

“It’s the biggest challenge I’ve faced, no doubt, but I know I’m going to be the biggest challenge he’s faced.

New date. Same goal 💯🌎🏆

Sam Goodman will now meet Naoya Inoue on January 24 after suffering an injury in sparring. #nolimitboxing#inouegoodmanpic.twitter.com/rohpjT49H0

— No Limit Boxing (@NoLimit_Boxing) December 14, 2024

“I’m putting in some work with some heavy punchers and I know the levels I’m at. I think “I’m the best he’s ever been in there with and vice versa. We’ll see who comes out on top. I know it will be me.

“I wouldn’t do this fight if I would I’m 100 per cent getting knocked out. My head’s not thinking ‘can I take his punches’. I know I can, I know I’ll be fine. I’m not worried about any of that stuff. I’m worried about winning.

“I think there’s a few ways I can win the fight. I’m not going to come out and make a prediction. But I truly believe, I’ve seen this picture in my head so clear that I get my hand raised at the end of that fight.”

Sam Goodman's fight with Naoya Inoue has been called off.

Goodman’s fight being called off is another blow for Australian boxing, which has had a tough year in 2024.

Tim Tszyu lost the two fights he contested this year — a bloody war against Sebastian Fundora and a knockout defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev, where the Australian’s tactics were widely criticised.

Tszyu’s record is now 24-2 and he said this week his priority is a Christmas wedding to his longtime partner before he eventually turns his focus to a boxing comeback.

Queenslander Liam Paro lost his first world title defence last weekend, losing his IBF junior welterweight belt to American Richardson Hitchens.

So the hopes of Australian boxing now rest on the shoulders of Jai Opetaia, who returns to fight on the Gold Coast against Huseyin Cinkara on January 8.

The 29-year-old has been on an absolute tear since he beat Mairis Briedis and fought through a broken jaw to win the IBF cruiserweight belt.

Opetaia (26-0, 20KOs) has won four fights since then, including three in Saudi Arabia, and will return to fight in Australia at the scene of his most epic victory to date.

Originally published as Aussie Sam Goodman’s world title fight postponed in utter ‘disaster’