Australia’s Sam Goodman will finally get a world title shot in his natural weight class, with the IBF mandating a super bantamweight title fight.
The Aussie (22-1, 8 KOs) will face former bantamweight champion Ryosuke Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs) for the interim IBF Super Bantamweight world title, with the winner to then battle undisputed pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs).
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It would be a shot at redemption for the 27-year-old Goodman, who was twice forced to withdraw from a Tokyo bout with Inoue due to a cut above the left eye suffered in sparring.
He was then given a world title shot up a weight division, but fell to featherweight champ Nick Ball in August 2025.
Goodman has since fought his way back up to No.2 at super bantamweight, defeating the previously unbeaten Rodrigo Fabian Ruiz by unanimous decision in Wollongong in April 2026.
Nishida, 29, was previously the IBF bantamweight champion after upsetting Emmanuel Rodriguez before copping his lone career defeat, losing the title to countryman Junto Nakatani.
Nishida is ranked No.1 at super bantamweight with Inoue owning all four belts, having last beaten Nakatani in May.
Under IBF rules, both parties have 30 days to finalise terms, after which the fight will proceed to purse bids.
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