Sam Goodman (born 10 October 1998) is an Australian professional boxer. He has held the IBF interim super bantamweight. He challenged for the WBA featherweight title in August 2025.

Early life Hailing from Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia, Goodman was born on 10 October 1998. At the age of 10 years old, Goodman injured his arm while playing rugby league. His father, a former rugby player, advised Sam to try boxing. He has listed Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. as his early boxing heroes, however, that would change as he got older, and he became more fond of Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk.

Amateur career Goodman started his amateur career after his father suggested to go to the local PCYC Sutherland Club, he didn't thrive immediately, even admitting that he used to cry at every loss, but it didn't take him long to catch up, he also fought every week since he started amateur boxing, at the age of 12, Goodman won his first National title and took part in 100 fights in the unpaid ranks, he would peak in amateur career in 2017 world championships which he prevailed at, however he always preferred longer fights; "proper battles" as he called them, which is one reason he went professional in 2018. Goodman also wanted to represent Australia in the 2020 Summer Olympics, but it wasn't meant to be. As per BoxRec, Goodman won the Australian National Championships at "Schoolboy" age on 2012, he participated in the 2013 and 2014 National Championships Junior but would fall short at the semi-finals, on 2015 he participated in the Youth National Championships but would fail again at the semi-finals but would win a bronze medal in the 2016 version, he won the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) 2016 world championships and the 2017 Oceanian championships.

Professional career Early career Debut Goodman stood at the super-bantamweight division and made his debut match against Thai veteran, Worawatchai Boonjan on 13 April 2018, by that time, Thai had composed a record of 11–12–1, which would be a challenge for a debutant, Goodman won via 2nd round technical knockout.

On 16 June 2021, Goodman successfully stopped Regional challenger Nort Beauchamp for the Australian Featherweight title, he would have a new record of nine wins, no losses and five knockouts, with wins against veterans and fellow newcomer boxers, and one of those victory is against olympian Simplice Fotsala.

Rise up the ranks Goodman vs. Mepranum On 22 December 2021, a match between Goodman and three-time world challenger Richie Mepranum for the vacant WBO Oriental super bantamweight title took place at The Star, Sydney. Goodman won via 6th round stoppage after Mepranum received an arm injury, therefore, Goodman is the new WBO Oriental champion.

Goodman vs. Fuse Goodman defended his WBO Oriental title against Japanese Fumiya Fuse for the vacant IBF Inter-continental super-bantamweight title, winning via unanimous decision.

Goodman vs. Elorde By July 2022 Goodman would be set to face former world challenger Juan Miguel Elorde, to defend his WBO Oriental and IBF Inter-continental titles, Goodman won via eighth round stoppage in a commanding display.

Goodman vs. Doheny After defeating Jason Cooper to defend his WBO Oriental belt, Goodman would now be facing his most challenging opponent, former IBF world champion Irish TJ Doheny for Goodman's WBO Oriental and IBF Inter-continental super-bantamweight titles where Goodman would win via unanimous decision.

Goodman vs. Aleem Goodman fought former WBA Interim super-bantamweight champion Ra'eese Aleem in an IBF final eliminator match on 18 June 2023. He won via 12-round split decision.

Goodman vs. Flores Goodman would win three more times against ranked fighters, first with experienced Miguel Flores, where Goodman won via unanimous decision, scoring 120–105 (x2) and 118–107 on the judges scorecards.

Goodman vs. Liu Goodman's next opponent was against undefeated Chinese boxer Zhong Liu on 15 December 2023 at Sydney, Australia. He won in another lop-sided unanimous decision. This was Goodman's fourth fight of the year.

Goodman vs. Schleibs On 13 March 2024 Goodman knocked out compatriot Mark Schleibs in the fourth round at Wollongong.

Goodman vs. Worawut Goodman faced undefeated Chainoi Worawut on 10 July 2024 at Wollongong Entertainment Centre. Goodman prevailed in another wide-margin unanimous decision (119–109, 117–113 and 117–111) and fought through a left-hand injury sustained within the 6th round.

Cancelled bouts with Naoya Inoue On 3 October 2024, it was reported that Goodman would challenge Naoya Inoue for the undisputed super bantamweight title in Tokyo, Japan, on 24 December 2024. On 13 December 2024, it was reported that Goodman suffered a serious cut on his eyelid during sparring and the fight has been moved to 24 January 2025. His fight with Inoue was cancelled for the second time after he had again injured his left eyelid during training on the morning of 11 January 2025. He was replaced by Kim Ye-joon.

Goodman vs. Vaca Goodman defeated Cesar Vaca Espinoza by unanimous decision at Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia, on 14 May 2025.

WBA featherweight championship challenge Goodman vs. Ball Goodman challenged English boxer Nick Ball, who holds the WBA featherweight title, on 16 August 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Goodman lost by unanimous decision.

Goodman vs. Blizzard Goodman got back to winning ways in his next fight, defeating the previously unbeaten Tyler Blizzard via unanimous decision at TikTok Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia, on 17 December 2025.

Goodman vs. Ruiz On 5 April 2026, Goodman defeated Rodrigo Fabian Ruiz by unanimous decision over 12 rounds in a final eliminator for a shot at the IBF junior-featherweight title at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, Australia.

Goodman vs. Nishida On 15 July 2026, Muto Promotions won a purse bid for an IBF interim 122-pound world title fight between Goodman and IBF #1 ranked contender, Ryosuke Nishida, and will host the fight in Japan on 27 September 2026.Goodman won the fight by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes24Win23–1Ryosuke NishidaUD1227 Sep 202623Win22–1Rodrigo Fabian RuizUD125 Apr 202622Win21–1Tyler BlizzardUD1017 Dec 202521Loss20–1Nick BallUD1216 Aug 202520Win20–0Cesar Vaca EspinozaUD1014 May 202519Win19–0Chainoi WorawutUD1210 Jul 202418Win18–0Mark SchleibsTKO4 (10), 13 Mar 202417Win17–0Zhong LiuUD1215 Dec 202316Win16–0Miguel FloresUD1215 Oct 202315Win15–0Ra'eese Aleem1218 Jun 202314Win14–0TJ DohenyUD10 12 Mar 202313Win13–0Jason CooperUD108 Oct 202212Win12–0Juan Miguel ElordeTKO8 (10), 20 Jul 202211Win11–0Fumiya FuseUD1011 May 202210Win10–0Richie MepranumTKO6 (10), 22 Dec 20219Win9–0Nort BeauchampTKO6 (8), 16 Jun 20218Win8–0Daniel CarrUD610 Apr 20217Win7–0Noldi ManakaneTKO1 (8), 7 Mar 20206Win6–0Sunardi GamboaTKO3 (6), 16 Nov 20195Win5–0Claudevan SeseTKO3 (6), 27 Jul 20194Win4–0Simplice FotsalaUD629 Mar 20193Win3–0Shamal Ram AnujUD627 Oct 20182Win2–0Richard Lockett819 Aug 20181Win1–0Worawatchai Boonjan2 (4), 13 Apr 2018

References

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