Japanese legend Naoya Inoue, known as “The Monster,” will defend his undisputed super bantamweight title next Tuesday, December 24. The fight will take place at the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. This bout marks Inoue’s third title defense within a single calendar year, an unprecedented achievement in super bantamweight boxing history.
Inoue, 31, with an impressive record of 28 wins, 25 by knockout, has built a remarkable legacy. His dominance began in December 2022, when he unified the bantamweight titles by defeating Paul Butler. Then, in July 2023, Naoya Inoue knocked out champion Stephen Fulton to claim the WBC and WBO titles, and in December, he completed the feat by defeating WBA/IBF champion Marlon Tapales, cementing his status as the undisputed champion in two weight classes.
In May this year, Inoue headlined the first boxing card at the Tokyo Dome since the historic Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas fight in 1990. In that event, Inoue overcame a first-round knockdown to defeat former two-division world champion Luis Nery in the sixth round. In September, he continued his impressive streak with a seventh-round TKO over former junior featherweight champion TJ Doheny. Inoue’s career has been a showcase of skill and power, placing him among boxing’s greats.
Now, Naoya Inoue will defend his undisputed super bantamweight title against the undefeated Australian Sam Goodman. Notably, Inoue will be aiming for his tenth consecutive knockout, in an attempt to reaffirm his dominance in the division and his position as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters.
For his part, Goodman, 26, enters this fight with an undefeated record of 19 wins, 8 by knockout. Since his professional debut in 2018, the Australian has quickly risen through the professional ranks, achieving a solid 4-0 record in 2023. His recent victories include decision wins over former champion TJ Doheny, as well as triumphs over undefeated talents Ra’eese Aleem and Zhong Liu. In March, Goodman scored a fourth-round TKO against Mark Schleibs, followed by a decision victory over Thatchana Luangphon in July, maintaining his unbeaten streak and showcasing his potential in the division.
Goodman arrives in Tokyo determined to claim the title and become the first to defeat the feared Inoue. The Australian has expressed his confidence and assures he is prepared for the challenge, though he acknowledges the difficulty of facing one of today’s most dominant boxers.
Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman – Card:
The preliminary card for the Inoue-Goodman event is packed with local talent. Notable fights include the bout between Goki Kobayashi (8-1) and Yuni Takada (15-8-3), as well as the clash between Jin Sasaki (18-1-1) and Shoki Sakai (29-14-3). In the co-main event, Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight title against an opponent yet to be determined. Other bouts feature Tsubasa Narai (14-2) facing Kai Watanabe (13-1-1), along with a showdown between Toshiki Shimonamachi (19-1-3) and Misaki Hirano (11-1).
𝐁𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞! 🎄
Naoya Inoue will defend his world titles against Sam Goodman on December 24, live on Sky Sports 🔥#InoueGoodman | @trboxingpic.twitter.com/sGRQUdTDlY
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) October 29, 2024
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