Undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue is returning to the ring against Australian challenger Sam Goodman on December 24 in Tokyo.
An announcement for the Christmas Eve title bout was made during a news conference on Thursday, October 24.
In his most recent fight, Inoue defended his four title belts (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO) with a seventh-round technical knockout of Irish opponent TJ Doheny on September 3 at Ariake Arena.
The 31-year-old Inoue (28-0, 25 knockouts) is set to make his next title defense at the same venue.
For "Monster" Inoue, his upcoming bout dubbed "Nightmare on Christmas Eve" will be his 24th consecutive world title fight and a testament to his long list of accomplishments in the ring.
Goodman, 26, is 19-0 with eight KOs. He is ranked No 1 in the super bantamweight (122-pound) division by the IBF and the WBO, and he's fired up about the opportunity to fight Inoue.
"We've known about this fight for quite a while now, so I'm here, I'm ready, I'm keen to get it on," Goodman was quoted as saying by Fox Sports. "This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
"I've waited a while for my shot and I'm just glad we've finally got it here."
Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo on the day of the fight's announcement, Inoue mentioned that he has a duty to fight Goodman.
"He's an opponent I cannot avoid if I'm going to defend my titles," Inoue was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "My motivation going forward is to surpass my last fight's performance."
The Challenge of Fighting Against Naoya Inoue
Goodman said he's determined to win to achieve his goal of becoming a world champion.
"He's a great boxer, one of the best pound-for-pound," Goodman said of Inoue, according to Fox Sports. "So I'm aware of the task in front of me."
He then said, "I know I've got to be at my best to beat this guy. But I'm not coming all the way to Tokyo to lie down and get beat like a lot of fighters have."
The Christmas Eve match will be Goodman's first world title bout.
In his most recent fight, Goodman earned a unanimous decision over Thailand's Thachtana Luangphon in a 12-rounder in Wollongong, Australia, on July 10.
Did You Know?
On December 26, 2023, Inoue became the undisputed super bantamweight champion with a 10th-round KO of Filipino Marlon Tapales at Ariake Arena. Before that, he was the undisputed bantamweight champion.
Inoue trains at Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama. Gym president Hideyuki Ohashi told reporters at Thursday's news conference that 2025 will be a new chapter in Inoue's career, referring to planned fights in the United States. (The four-division champ hasn't fought in the US since June 2021.)
But after conquering the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions, Inoue said he's not ready to look ahead to 2025 just yet.
Instead, Inoue insists he's taking a cautious approach as he prepares to face Goodman.
"If we don't win, we won't be able to see the next stage," Inoue said, according to Chunichi Sports, adding that he wants to "carefully" fight each opponent.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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