Japan’s Naoya Inoue (C) celebrates his victory over Eire’s TJ Doheny of their IBF-WBA-WBC-WBO super-bantamweight title boxing match at at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo on September 3, 2024. (Photograph by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP)
Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue will defend his titles in opposition to Australia’s Sam Goodman in Tokyo on Christmas Eve, it was introduced Thursday.
The battle at Ariake Enviornment would be the unbeaten Inoue’s third of the 12 months and is more likely to be his final in Japan earlier than an anticipated bout in Las Vegas subsequent 12 months.
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READ: Naoya Inoue stays undisputed champion, stops TJ Doheny
The 31-year-old, who has a 28-0 file with 25 wins by knockout, beat Eire’s TJ Doheny in his most up-to-date protection in Tokyo final month.
The 26-year-old Goodman, who has a 19-0 file with eight KOs, has by no means held a world title in any division.
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“He has an unbeaten file so he will need to have one thing about him,” Inoue, referred to as “Monster”, informed reporters in Tokyo.
READ: Naoya Inoue set for Vegas after stopping injured TJ Doheny
“I’ll have to be cautious and bear that in thoughts for this battle.”
Inoue shall be defending his super-bantamweight titles for the third time since he grew to become undisputed champion in December final 12 months.
Japan’s Naoya Inoue (R) knocks out Mexicos Luis Nery (C) to win their IBF-WBA-WBC-WBO tremendous bantamweight title boxing match on the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Might 6, 2024. (Photograph by Philip FONG / AFP)
He’s simply the second man to turn into undisputed world champion at two totally different weights for the reason that four-belt period started in 2004. American Terence Crawford was the primary.
“That is the primary time I’ve had three fights in a 12 months since 2017,” stated Inoue.
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“It’s jogged my memory how good for my preparation and bodily form it’s to have that variety of fights.
“I’m assured I’ll haven’t any downside being in form for December.”
Inoue invited Goodman into the ring after the Japanese fighter beat Mexico’s Luis Nery in entrance of 55,000 followers on the Tokyo Dome in Might.
The pair have been scheduled to battle in September till negotiations broke down.
Goodman stated the battle was “the chance of a lifetime”.
“He’s an important boxer, he’s among the best pound for pound,” he stated.
“I’m conscious of the duty I’ve obtained in entrance of me and I do know I’ve obtained to be at my finest to beat this man.
“I’m not coming all the way in which over to Tokyo to lie down and get beat like quite a lot of fighters have.”
