Junior featherweight contender Sam “The Ghost” Goodman will threat a mandated shot at undisputed 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue when he takes on powerful Thailander Chainoi “The Rockman” Worawut on the WIN Leisure Centre in Wollongong, NSW, Australia, subsequent Wednesday evening.
The battle is do-or-die for Goodman. A loss for the 25-year-old Australian from Albion Park will put him in the back of the queue; a win will merely see him maintain his place.
So why take the battle?
“It was at all times on the playing cards, and it regarded like there was a chance for me to battle for the world title subsequent. That’s just about the explanation behind it,” mentioned Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs) to The Ring.
“As you’ve seen over the past 12 months, I like to remain lively. I practice year-round. And after the final battle as effectively, I assumed it might be one other good take a look at to battle somebody who was world-class and get again in there with a world-level opponent earlier than I tackle the likes of Inoue.”
Goodman has at all times stored a busy schedule. Other than the primary 12 months of COVID-19 in 2020, he has boxed a minimum of 3 times a 12 months all through his profession. Final 12 months, he picked up the gloves 4 instances, defeating Ring-ranked contenders Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs) and TJ Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), in addition to claiming the scalps of Miguel Flores (25-5-1, 12 KOs) and Zhong Liu (19-1, 7 KOs). All of these wins had been on factors.
Exercise issues on this sport.
“It’s not about abilities deteriorating or something, it’s nearly constructing and constructing on what I’ve already finished and having a tough hit-out earlier than I attain the largest battle of my life. That’s actually what that is about,” mentioned The Ring’s No. 4-ranked junior featherweight contender, who’s coming off a fourth-round knockout of Mark Schleibs in March.
“It’s one other good, powerful take a look at; getting by means of it and passing with flying colours earlier than transferring on to the largest battle of my life.”
Bangkok’s Worawut, aka Thachtana Luangphon (25-0-1, 15 KOs), won’t be making the journey out to Australia merely for a free vacation and a packet of cream biscuits. The battle-hardened ex-Muay Thai fighter has a giant proper hand and a jarring brief left hook, weapons that the 27-year-old will likely be trying to land in opposition to Goodman in what will likely be his first boxing bout outdoors of his homeland.
“He doesn’t have a foul eye and he’s fairly composed in there as effectively,” Goodman mentioned of his opponent. “He’s fairly calm, however I don’t suppose he’s confronted an excessive amount of adversity in his profession. I feel I’ve bought greater than sufficient abilities to frustrate anybody within the division. Not simply to frustrate them, however to essentially make them second guess what they’re doing within the ring. I feel there are a number of issues that I can capitalize on.
“My energy, I feel, will likely be with the ability to management the tempo of the battle and the place it takes place as effectively.”
In a latest interview with Wasim Mather on this web site, Worawut spoke of Goodman’s skills as a boxer.
“Sam Goodman is an efficient fighter with quick footwork. He at all times waits to counterattack and has an amazing lead hand,” he mentioned.
“It’s identical to one other battle. For greater than two months, I educated at 100%. My purpose is to battle Inoue; it’s my dream, however I have to win the battle in opposition to Goodman first.”
There may be a number of strain on each boxers going into this battle with the largest prize within the lighter weight courses awaiting the winner.
“Beating me will change the course of Worawut’s profession,” mentioned Goodman. “I’m conscious of that. Like I mentioned earlier than, I simply give attention to myself and what I have to do.
“I’m not too involved about no matter he’s considering or no matter kind of pressures he’s placing on himself. I simply give attention to getting the job finished and getting it finished effectively. That’s the place my head’s at proper now.
“I’m not overthinking it. I’m simply having fun with battle week once more, combating a bloke in my hometown in what may very well be my final battle right here for just a little bit, however who is aware of? I’m simply having fun with every little thing that comes with it. However I’m fairly centered on this one. I’m in the most effective form of my profession and I’ve finished every little thing proper, so I’m not taking any probabilities.”
Japanese celebrity Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), The Ring Journal No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, is the pot of gold on the finish of the rainbow.
The 31-year-old from Yokohama is predicted to go round once more in September, with the resurgent southpaw Doheny thought of a possible opponent. The 37-year-old Australian-based Irishman has efficiently constructed a profile for himself in Japan with three straight early knockout wins in opposition to strong opposition previously 12 months.
Chatting with Fox Sports activities Australia in late Could, Inoue’s American co-promoter, Bob Arum, expanded on the plan for the 122-pound world champion.
“The plan is for Inoue to battle once more in Japan this September. After which relying on how every little thing breaks down from there, he would battle once more on the finish of the 12 months, perhaps in Riyadh,” the High Rank head honcho mentioned.
“And each Sam Goodman and the Irish child (Doheny) are nice opponents. I had the chance to have a short dialog with Sam this week in Tokyo and was very impressed with him and his demeanor. So whether or not he fights Inoue in September or December, I don’t know.
“However he actually will likely be combating Inoue this 12 months.”
Goodman is aware of what he’s risking by going through Worawut, however he believes he will likely be higher for the hit-out when the Inoue bout comes round in 5 months’ time.
“That’s the plan. Our plan has at all times been to get the December battle in opposition to him. That’s what we’re aiming in the direction of. All the pieces I’ve finished this 12 months is a step in the direction of that final purpose,” Goodman mentioned.
“It’s at the back of my thoughts and it pushes me daily. It’s shut, however there’s nonetheless loads of work to do. And it begins on July tenth as effectively. I’ve bought one other man I’ve bought to get by means of, and as soon as I do get by means of him, it’s full give attention to that December date.”
Australian-based boxing journalist Anthony Cocks has been overlaying the game for over 20 years for numerous print and on-line publications.