Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue brought his IBF mandatory, little known, Sam Goodman, into the ring, making it clear that he intends on defending against him next in September after knocking out Luis Nery in the sixth round tonight in Tokyo, Japan.
While casual boxing fans are happy with Inoue choosing Goodman next, hardcore view it as cherry-picking and playing it safe, choosing not to move up to featherweight to take talented fighters who could expose him.
Goodman: A Soft Touch Compared to a Murderer’s Row
This is disappointing news for fans, as they had hoped that ‘Monster’ Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) would test himself by moving up to featherweight to take on what many few as the king of the division, Brandon Figueroa or the dangerous knockout artist, IBF champion Luis Alberto Lopez.
Goodman is a soft touch for Inoue compared to the talented fighters at 126, going up against this Murderers’ Row:
Brandon Figueroa, Luis Lopez, Rafael Espinoza, Rey Vargas, and Raymond Ford.
Did Nery and Tapales Spook Inoue?
Given the hard time Inoue had against Nery and in his previous fight against Marlon Tapales, the Japanese superstar might see the writing on the wall, realizing that if he moved up to featherweight, he wouldn’t last long against the talented fighters, many of them good enough to beat him.
Instead of moving up among the best, Inoue appears content to stay at 122, a division completely barren of talented life.
Instead of moving up four pounds from 122 to 126 to take on the talents at featherweight, Inoue has decided to stay at super bantamweight to defend against the 25-year-old Australian fighter Sam Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs), who lacks punching power and has fought largely lackluster opposition.
Goodman’s Lacklustre Resume
Juan Miguel Elorde
TJ Doheny: 37-years-old
Richie Mepranum: 37
It appears that the tough fight that Marlon Tapales gave Naoya Inoue last December has made him reluctant to move up to 126 to mix it with the many talented fighters in the featherweight division, who can punch as hard as him and would have a very good chance of beating him.
The Featherweight Gauntlet
These are some of the fighters that Inoue would have massive trouble with if he decided to move up to 126.
– Brandon Figueroa: The King of the featherweight division?
– Luis Alberto Lopez: Knockout artist with power in both hands
– Rey Vargas: 5’10” WBC champion.
– Rafael Espinoza: The 6’1″ WBO champion
– Robeisy Ramirez: Two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba
– Nick Ball: Dangerous slugger
– Raymond Ford: WBA champion
– Ruben Villa: Excellent technician with skills to beat Inoue