Sam Goodman can land world title fight or face the loss of his home in high stakes main event

With a world title shot within arm’s reach, the brutally high stakes have been laid bare for the biggest fight of Sam Goodman’s life on Wednesday night against Cesar Vaca.

It’s literally Las Vegas or bust for Sam Goodman, who faces the most important night of his life at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, where a win over Cesar Vaca could see him land a world title shot on the same card as Tim Tszyu and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in July.

A defeat in his first fight in 10 months though, and Goodman faces losing the million dollar home he purchased late last year.

Goodman bought the Central Coast property after signing on for a seven-figure payday to challenge boxing superstar Naoya Inoue in December.

A pair of cuts to his eye ruined that world title dream though, and Goodman told Code Sports in April that he desperately needs to fight to keep some money coming in.

Now, the 26-year-old faces losing the house if he can’t get past the 19-1-1 Vaca in their PPV headliner at the Hordern Pavilion.

Goodman vs Vaca | WED 14 MAY 7PM AEST | Australia’s undefeated Sam Goodman makes his long awaited return to the ring where he faces Mexico’s Cesar Vaca in Sydney | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports >

Vaca tells Goodman’s supporters to be quiet. Pictures: No Limit Boxing/Gregg Porteous

“Sam’s house is on the line if he loses, that’s the significance of this fight,” Goodman’s manager Pete Mitrevski said. “He is struggling to make the payments.

“His mum and dad have helped him out, but every dollar he makes from this fight is going straight out the door.

“He’s basically fighting for free in this fight.

“He is getting by to pay the bills in his dream to win a world title.

“Sam was so devastated initially (after the second cut) that he talked about giving it up and doing something else to make money.

“But it shows how much he loves boxing, that he is still fighting and won’t give up until he gets that world-title shot.”

An emotional comeback win against Vaca could see Goodman lock in an interim world title shot on the same MGM Grand card as Tszyu’s rematch with Fundora.

As first reported by this masthead, Pacquiao is set to come out of his four year retirement on the same card to face WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios.

With undisputed super-bantamweight champion Inoue set to defend the throne against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, Goodman is close to locking in an IBF or WBO interim title fight.

But a fired up Goodman, who has been ranked number one in the IBF and WBO for nearly two years, was in no mood to talk about Inoue, titles or Vegas after weighing in on Tuesday.

“I’m already ranked number one, so you can’t go any higher until you’re world champion, so that’s a better question for (promoter) Matt Rose and Pete Mitrevksi,” he said.

“I’m not here to talk about that fight, I’m here to talk about the fight I’ve got tomorrow night.”

If he wins, Goodman’s rowdy supporter crew, known as ‘The Mad Bunch’ will be first in line for tickets to Vegas, and they’ve been preparing some special sledges to send Vaca’s way on Wednesday night.

Tim Tszyu and Sebastian Fundora are set for a rematch of their 2024 bloodbath. Picture: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao (L) will make a boxing comeback in July. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

“A big part of the Mad Bunch started with the footy community at Albion Park,” Goodman said. “My dad played first grade for them for many years, and I still love getting down and watching the boys when I can.

“They’re practising their Spanish at the moment, so they’ll be hurling some abuse tomorrow night.

“He’ll be hearing it.”

Meanwhile, there were dramatic scenes on the undercard as rising Sydney star Ahmad Reda raced over to the Sydney Football Stadium to use a sauna in a frantic effort to make weight.

Reda initially missed weight by 1.2kg ahead of his lightweight bout with Patrick Lilly.

He was forced to hightail it down Driver Ave to the Football Stadium, where he sweated it out for nearly two hours, eventually tipping the scales at 60.89kg.

A win will see Reda booked for an Australian lightweight title fight against Billy Polkinghorn, before he turns his attention to longtime rival Harry Garside.

In his first professional bout in three years, Garside stepped on the scales at 63.16kg for his comeback fight against Charlie Bell (63.26kg).

Originally published as Sam Goodman can land world title fight or face the loss of his home in high stakes main event