Naoya Inoue is set to complete a compelling defense of his undisputed junior featherweight title. Inouye will fight undefeated Australian boxer Sam Goodman on Christmas Eve, Top Rank announced on Thursday.
Goodman traveled to Japan in May to watch Inoue play against Luis Neri. The challenger scored a stunning knockdown in the opening round — the first time Inoue had been dropped in his 27-fight pro career. Inoue, however, came back and dismantled Neri before the knockout came in round 7 to retain the undisputed title at 122 pounds.
It will mark the third defense of Inoue’s undisputed crown following stoppages by Neri and TJ Doheny earlier this year. Inoue is currently ranked No. 2 on CBS Sports Boxing pound-for-pound rankings and is one of three male boxers to hold undisputed champions in two weight classes during the four-belt era, along with Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford.
Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) is also 2-0 in 2024, defeating Chainoi Worawut and Mark Schleibs via unanimous decision by knockout. Goodman fought for a major boxing championship for the first time after winning the secondary WBO junior featherweight title. Goodman notably defeated Doheny — Inoue’s last opponent — by decision in March 2023. He also defeated WBA super featherweight title challenger Miguel Flores and former WBA interim super bantamweight champ Rhys Alim.
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