Mandatory Challenger Sam Goodman Says He Has Seen Enough to Dethrone Nayoa Inoue

IBF junior featherweight mandatory challenger Sam Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs) believes he has enough skill in his repertoire to dethrone Naoya Inoue. 

Australia’s Goodman was ringside at the Tokyo Dome to witness Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) drop Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) three times to retain his undisputed junior featherweight titles. 

Two-weight undisputed champion Inoue was forced to climb from the canvas in the opening round following a crisp counter left hook from Nery, which sent the Japanese fighter tumbling to the canvas for the first time in his illustrious career. 

Inoue recovered and returned the favor to his Mexican challenger in the second frame with a left hook of his own, before scoring a second knockdown in the fifth at close quarters while pinned against the ropes.

The end came in the sixth courtesy of a hard, long right hand from Inoue, sending the Mexican tumbling into a heap, prompting referee Michael Griffin to wave off the contest at 1:22 of the sixth round. 

Goodman believes that, despite Inoue’s strong performance, he saw weaknesses that he could exploit to beat the two-weight undisputed champion. 

“I have seen enough in that fight to do what I need to do to win that fight,” Goodman told No Limit Boxing’s X account.

“It will be a massive opportunity for me, because I want to fight for world titles. [Inoue] has them all, so I have to fight him.

“I’ve got to box my best, but if I do it, then I believe I can beat this man.”

Discussing Inoue being knocked down, Goodman said: “It shows that everyone is human. At any given moment, anyone can beat anyone. It is up to me to box the perfect fight to put it on him.

“I have plenty in there [in Inoue’s performance against Nery] to show that I can really push this guy – not just to push him but beat him.”

Promoter Bob Arum is also featured in the video, telling Goodman that Top Rank will reach out to Goodman and No Limits Boxing to discuss a potential fight between him and Inoue for “September or October.”