Goodman cut sparring, withdraws from fight vs. Inoue again

Goodman cut sparring, withdraws from fight vs. Inoue again 1 | ASL

For the second time in 30 days, Australia’s Sam Goodman has withdrawn from a fight against undisputed junior featherweight champion .

According to his promoter, No Limit, Goodman had a recurrence of an eye injury he suffered last month that led to the initial bout Dec. 24 being postponed to Jan. 24 in .

Japan’s Inoue, one of boxing’s top global stars, still will fight Jan. 24 in Tokyo, sources told ESPN. A replacement opponent is being sought on two weeks’ notice.

Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) needed four stitches to close a cut over his left eye that he suffered while sparring last month. While sparring Saturday morning (local time) in Australia, that cut reopened and was more severe.

The 26-year-old now will need plastic surgery that will sideline him approximately six months, sources said.

In May, Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) knocked out Luis Nery with 50,000-plus in attendance at a sold-out Tokyo Dome. In September, Inoue retained his four 122-pound belts with a seventh-round TKO of TJ Doheny.

Inoue, ESPN’s No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound boxer, is already an all-time great, a four-division champion who has dominated every weight class in which he has reigned. He was a -2000 favorite to defeat Goodman, per ESPN BET.

Goodman, 26, is ESPN’s No. 4-ranked junior featherweight and has proved his mettle in wins over fellow contenders Ra’eese Aleem and Doheny. He is coming off a July decision win over Thai fringe contender Thachtana Luangphon.

Inoue will be making the third defense of his undisputed championship and will fulfill another mandatory obligation. The 31-year-old still will owe a mandatory defense afterward against Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

Inoue hasn’t competed in the United States since June 2021, but there are plans for him to return for a stateside fight in the spring. He told ESPN on Wednesday that fight could take place in April against Mexico’s David Picasso at the MGM Grand in .

Source: espn.com

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