| |
|
The Nightmare on Christmas Eve: Naoya Inoue to Defend Undisputed Super Bantamweight Crown against Sam Goodman December 24 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena LIVE on ESPN+
PhilBoxing.com Thu, 24 Oct 2024

WBO bantamweight world ruler Yoshiki Takei returns in the co-feature
TOKYO (Oct. 23, 2024) – Boxing’s most prolific undisputed king is ready to close out the year on a 'Monster' note.
Naoya Inoue will defend his super bantamweight crown against unbeaten Australian contender Sam Goodman on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Inoue will make an unprecedented third defense of his undisputed crown within a single calendar year while looking to secure his 10th consecutive knockout.
Inoue-Goodman will headline a special early-morning broadcast streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. In the co-feature, Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight world title against an opponent to be named.
Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) began his four-belt legacy in December 2022 when he stopped Paul Butler to unify all the bantamweight titles. Then, within a little over a year, the 31-year-old knocked out WBC/WBO champ Stephen Fulton in July 2023 and WBA/IBF king Marlon Tapales that December to achieve undisputed glory in a second weight class. He made history again in May by headlining the first boxing card at the Tokyo Dome since the historic Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas showdown, overcoming a first-round knockdown before icing former two-division world champion Luis Nery in six. In September, he registered a seventh-round TKO over one-time junior featherweight king TJ Doheny.
Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) is a 26-year-old Australian who entered the paid ranks in 2018. He went 4-0 in 2023, earning points victories over Doheny as well as then-unbeaten talents Ra’eese Aleem and Zhong Liu. He authored a fourth-round TKO against Mark Schleibs in March before decisioning previously unbeaten Thachtana Luangphon across 12 in July.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Connor Benn Targets Barrios' WBC Welter Belt After Defeating Chris Eubank Jnr By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 17 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Sans Wembanyama, Spurs Dominate Kings 123 – 110 By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 17 Nov 2025GM Joey Antonio finishes second in Spain chess tilt By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 17 Nov 2025A Tall Order: Rafael Espinoza KOs Arnold Khegai to Retain Featherweight Crown , Sun, 16 Nov 2025Conor Benn dominates Chris Eubank Jr to claim emphatic rematch victory By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 16 Nov 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats Argentinian CM Daniri , maintains second place in Spain chess tourney By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 16 Nov 2025NBA ALL STAR 2026: USA VS. WORLD By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sun, 16 Nov 2025Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn 2: Will Eubank Step on the Gas Pedal Earlier? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Tickets ON SALE NOW for Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Russ Westbrook set record setting 10,000 assists By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 15 Nov 2025GM Joey Antonio draws Becker to maintain second place in Spain chess tourney By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 15 Nov 20254th Gov. Ruel Pacquiao Motocross Competition By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Weigh-In Results: Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Soledad fights Thai for WBC Asia Continental Welter title on Nov. 29 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Former Champ Joseph Parker fails drug test on WBO championship fight By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 15 Nov 2025R&B PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO HARD ROCK LIVE AT ETESS ARENA FOR FIGHT NIGHT 4 ON NOVEMBER 22, 2025 , Sat, 15 Nov 2025WEIGHIN RESULTS FROM ALL STAR BOXING SHOW IN MANAGUA , Sat, 15 Nov 2025Tapales wins by a unanimous decision By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 14 Nov 2025Porres III to fight Narukami for vacant IBF Youth flyweight title tomorrow By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 14 Nov 2025Press Conference Notes: Featherweight King Rafael Espinoza Readies for Mexican Homecoming , Fri, 14 Nov 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS HOSTS “BABY SHOWER” TO BENEFIT MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS IN HONOR OF PAPA-TO-BE JIMUEL PACQUIAO’S PRO DEBUT , Fri, 14 Nov 2025DANGEROUS SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS FRANCISCO VERON AND ROIMAN VILLA COLLIDE IN “DO OR DIE” MAIN EVENT ON PROBOXTV’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS , Fri, 14 Nov 2025Jeter Promotions Kacie Wheeler Back in Action on November 22 , Fri, 14 Nov 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats German FIDE Master for stay in second place in Spain Chess Tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 14 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|