Sam Goodman (boxer)

	Sam Goodman (born 10 October 1998) is an Australian boxer who held the WBO Oriental from 2021 to 2023 and IBF Inter-continental super bantamweight titles from 2022 to 2023, he is also the top contender for the IBF and WBO in the super bantamweight division.

Early life
Hailing from Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia, Goodman was born on 10 October 1998, he started boxing to get fit for Australian rugby, however he would abandon rugby as he injures his arm and at 10 years old, his father who was a former rugby player (Steve) advised Sam to try out on boxing. He listed Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. as his early boxing heroes, however that would change as he gets older, he became more fond of Vasiliy Lomachenko.

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 in the 2016 version, he won the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) 2016 world championships and the 2017 Oceanian championships.

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 has 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 had successfully stopped Regional challenger Nort Beauchamp for the Australian Featherweight title, he would have a new record of 9 wins, no losses and 5 knockouts, with wins against veterans and fellow newcomer boxers, and one of those victory is against olympian Simplice Fotsala.

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 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 would defend his WBO Oriental title against Japanese Fumiya Fuse for the vacant IBF Inter-continental super bantamweight title, Goodman won 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 8th round stoppage in 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 lop-sided decision overcoming a huge challenge.

Goodman vs. Aleem
On early May 2023, Goodman would be scheduled to fight former WBA Interim super bantamweight champion Ra'eese Aleem in an IBF final eliminator match on 18 June 2023, despite one judge making a rather "head-scratching" score of 116-112 for Aleem, Goodman still won via 12-round split decision, further increasing his world title shot.

Goodman vs. Flores, Liu
Goodman would win three more times against ranked fighters, first with experienced Miguel Flores, where Goodman won via a whopping unanimous decision, scoring 120-105 (x2) and 118–107 on the judges scorecards. Goodman's next opponent is against undefeated Chinese Zhong Liu on 15 December 2023 at Sydney, Australia, where Goodman would win in another lop-sided however uneventful unanimous decision.

After a busy and amazing year of 2023 for Goodman, Goodman would already fight on 13 March 2024 against compatriot Mark Schleibs, where Goodman would finally gain a knockout win as he stops Schleibs in the 4th round at Wollongong.

Goodman vs. Worawut
Goodman is schedule to clash with fellow undefeated Chainoi Worawut to risk his mandatory status for Naoya Inoue 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 trough a left hand injury sustained within the 6th round. Despite the wide margin in the ringside officials' scorecards, the viewers thinks that the scores should be closer than the given, with even a small count of the viewers viewing the bout as a victory for Worawut.