Inoue-Goodman Title Fight Postponed to January 24

Naoya Inoue's super-bantamweight title defense against Sam Goodman, originally scheduled for Christmas Eve, has been postponed to January 24 due to an eye injury sustained by Goodman during sparring. The 26-year-old Australian challenger required four stitches after the incident, leading his team to recommend a delay for recovery. Inoue, the undefeated champion, expressed disappointment on social media but remains focused on delivering a strong performance in the rescheduled fight. Both fighters hold perfect records, with Inoue boasting 25 knockouts in 28 wins and Goodman having 19 victories with eight knockouts. This matchup will mark Inoue's third title defense since becoming undisputed champion late last year, and it is expected to be his last fight in Japan before potentially heading to Las Vegas. Goodman's injury was described as a 'freak accident' by his camp, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the situation.