Australian boxing star Sam Goodman has secured a world title shot against Japanese boxer Ryosuke Nishida.
No Limit Boxing announced the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has officially mandated an interim IBF World Super Bantamweight Title fight between Sam Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs) and Ryosuke Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs), with the winner to face undisputed pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue.
For Goodman, the mandate carries extra significance. The 27-year-old from Albion Park, NSW, was twice denied the biggest fight of his life when a sparring cut suffered above his left eye during preparation for his scheduled blockbuster with Inoue in Tokyo forced his withdrawal on two separate occasions in late 2024 and January 2025.
He subsequently moved up in weight to featherweight, falling short in his first world title attempt against Nick Ball in Saudi Arabia in August 2025. Now, the IBF has handed him the clearest possible route back to the fight the world wanted to see at his natural weight.
Goodman is ranked #2 by the IBF at super bantamweight and arrives in strong form, having defeated the previously unbeaten Rodrigo Fabian Ruiz by unanimous decision in Wollongong in April 2026.
More Fight News
- Fight announced: Liam Paro vs Lewis Crocker world title fight confirmed for June 24 in Brisbane
- ‘The Butcher’ returns: Nikita Tszyu, Oscar Diaz make weight for Newcastle main event
- ‘It could get messy’: Nikita defends Tszyucastle against Oscar Diaz
Standing across from him will be Nishida, who is no stranger to the world stage. The 29-year-old southpaw from Osaka held the IBF World Bantamweight Title after a stunning upset win over two-time champion Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2024, with his only professional defeat coming at the hands of powerful countryman Junto Nakatani.
Nishida arrives as the IBF’s #1-ranked super bantamweight — making this a collision between the division’s two top-rated contenders, with a world title and a mandatory shot at Naoya Inoue on the line.
Under IBF rules, both parties have 30 days to finalise terms, after which the fight will proceed to purse bids.
