Sam Goodman has made weight without a problem in Japan, clearing the first of two trips to the scales before his world title fight with Ryosuke Nishida.
The Wollongong boxer came through Saturday’s official weigh-in ahead of their interim IBF super bantamweight title bout in Tokyo on Sunday.
“No problem with weight. Time to rehydrate and go into battle,” Goodman’s manager, Peter Mitrevski, told Fox Sports Australia
after the weigh-in.
There is still one more trip to the scales. Under IBF rules, Goodman and Nishida must weigh in again on fight morning.
The second weigh-in has been moved from 9am to 8am Sunday in Tokyo, Australian boxing manager and matchmaker Mike Altamura, who works with Nishida’s team, confirmed to
Fox Sports Australia.
Code Sports earlier reported that Goodman’s team had hoped for a 7am start to give him more time to eat, drink and prepare. But Altamura said IBF rules require the weigh-in to take place between 8am and 10am.
“We had no objection to 8am,” he said.
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With Saturday’s weigh-in behind him, Goodman is closing in on the world-title opportunity that has slipped away from him a couple of times.
“It’s been full of ups and downs, but we’re almost here now,” Goodman told Fox
Sports Australia earlier this week.
“I’m in this sport to become a world champion. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
Twice he was scheduled to face Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue, only for cuts suffered in sparring to wipe out both opportunities.
Goodman later stepped up to featherweight and pushed world champion Nick Ball over 12 rounds, but lost a decision in a close fight.
He has since returned to super bantamweight, with Nishida standing between him and the interim IBF belt. Goodman has been determined to look ahead as the fight has drawn closer.
“I’m not too focused on the past at the moment. I’m looking at what’s next,” he said.
There has been no hostility between the fighters during fight week. Friday’s press conference was a respectful affair, although Nishida did describe Goodman as “thick” while discussing the Aussie’s build.
“He called me a thick boy,” Goodman grinned afterwards.
“Said I was thicker than what he expected. He didn’t have too much to say. It was more about his weight cut being easier at super bantamweight.
“He is what I expected.
He is going to be a good boxer. A good mover.
“He can dig in at times, but I don’t think he’ll be able to dig in like I’ll be able to on Sunday night.”
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Nishida, a former IBF bantamweight champion, has lost only once as a pro – to fellow Japanese star Junto Nakatani. Now fighting at super bantamweight, he will have the home crowd behind him as he attempts to become a world champion again.
Goodman believes he has the tools to beat him.
“I think across the board, I’ve got enough to beat him,” he said. “I think I’ve got many many ways to win this one.”
Winning a world title in Japan would carry extra meaning for the Australian, who spoke this week about wanting to follow greats Lionel Rose, Johnny Famechon and Andrew Moloney.
“I’m looking to emulate what those guys have done. Make myself a world champion,” he said. “What a better way to do it than over here.”
After two cancelled shots at Inoue and a near miss against Ball, Goodman is finally within touching distance of a world title.
“I’m just itching,”
he said. “This is my moment and I’m keen to take it with both hands.”