Japan’s Naoya Inoue (center) celebrates his victory over Ireland’s TJ Doheny in their IBF-WBA-WBC-WBO super bantamweight title boxing match at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on September 3, 2024. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
Japan’s undisputed super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue will defend his titles against Australia’s Sam Goodman on Christmas Eve in Tokyo, it was announced on Thursday.
The fight at Ariake Arena will be Inoue’s third undefeated of the year and likely his last in Japan before an expected fight next year in Las Vegas.
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READ: Naoya Inoue remains undisputed champion, stops TJ Doheny
The 31-year-old, who has a record of 28-0 and 25 wins by knockout, defeated Irishman TJ Doheny in his last defense in Tokyo last month.
The 26-year-old Goodman, who has a record of 19-0 and eight knockouts, has not held a world title in any division.
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“He has an unbeaten record, so there must be something about him,” Inoue, known as “Monster,” told reporters in Tokyo.
READ: Naoya Inoue heads to Vegas after stopping injured TJ Doheny
“I have to be careful and keep that in mind going into this fight.”
Inoue will defend his super bantamweight titles for the third time since becoming undisputed champion in December last year.
Japan’s Naoya Inoue (R) knocks out Mexico’s Luis Nery (C) to win their IBF-WBA-WBC-WBO super bantamweight title boxing match at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on May 6, 2024. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
He is only the second man to become undisputed world champion at two different weights since the four-belt era began in 2004. The first was the American Terence Crawford.
“This is the first time since 2017 that I’ve had three fights in one year,” Inoue said.
READ: Naoya Inoue’s hunger has not been satisfied even after the unification of the second weight class
“It reminded me how good it is for my preparation and my physical condition to have so many fights.
“I am confident that I will have no problems being in shape in December.”
Inoue invited Goodman to the ring after the Japanese fighter defeated Mexico’s Luis Nery in front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome in May.
The fight between the two was supposed to take place in September until negotiations failed.
Goodman said the fight was “the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“He’s a great boxer, pound for pound he’s one of the best,” he said.
“I am aware of the task that lies ahead of me and I know that I have to do my best to beat this guy.
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“I’m not coming all the way to Tokyo to lie down and get beaten like a lot of fighters have done.”