- Sam Goodman won by unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 118-110) over Rodrigo Ruiz in a 12-round IBF super bantamweight eliminator in Wollongong, Australia
- Goodman was staggered in round two by a sharp overhand left but showed tremendous character to adjust and dominate from round four onwards with superior body work
- Victory installs Goodman as the IBF mandatory challenger at 122 pounds — with Naoya Inoue holding the IBF belt, a potential blockbuster awaits
Goodman Gets the Job Done the Hard Way
Right then, it wasn't pretty — but Sam Goodman is back where he belongs. Co-headlining the same Wollongong card that saw Tim Tszyu dismantle Denis Nurja, the 27-year-old Australian put on a gritty, character-laden performance to grind out a unanimous decision over Rodrigo Ruiz in 12 rounds. Scorecards of 115-113, 116-112, and 118-110 tell a consistent story — Goodman won, and the judges were in broad agreement, even if the margins vary. This isn't the sort of night that sends the Twitter feed into meltdown, but what it does is put Goodman in line for a proper world title fight. And at 122 pounds right now, that means one name: Naoya Inoue.
Make no mistake, Goodman showed real vulnerability tonight. In round two, Ruiz caught him with a quality overhand left that rocked the Australian proper. For a moment it looked like Goodman might fold — he was in trouble, no question. But here's where we find out about fighters. Goodman didn't panic, didn't run, didn't tighten up and hope for the best. He regrouped, he breathed, and by the fourth round he'd completely changed the complexion of the fight. If you know, you know — that's the difference between a good fighter and a great one. The ability to survive adversity and come back stronger is not something you can coach into someone. It's in you or it isn't. Tonight, it was in Goodman.
Body Work That Made the Difference
Let's not beat around the bush about how Goodman turned this fight around. It was the body. From round four onwards, the Albion Park lad went downstairs relentlessly, targeting Ruiz's ribs and solar plexus with compact, well-timed shots. This is smart boxing — breaking a man down physically is as effective as trying to take his head off, and frankly it's more reliable over 12 rounds. Ruiz started strong, no doubt about it. He punches with genuine venom and that overhand left of his is a legitimate weapon. But as the rounds ticked by and Goodman's body shots took their toll, Ruiz's engine started sputtering. The tank was running low, and Goodman knew it.
Rounds 10 and 11 were particularly telling. Goodman stung Ruiz with a sharp left uppercut in round 10 — a shot that got a visible reaction from the Argentine — and then came back in 11 with a sustained body assault that had Ruiz covering up and looking for the clinch. By that point, any doubt about the judges' scorecards was effectively settled. Goodman was controlling the fight, controlling the pace, and controlling the narrative. Class performance in the late rounds from a man who'd been in real trouble early doors.
What Now? The Inoue Question
This is where it gets genuinely exciting for boxing fans, and let's be honest — it's the question everyone's asking. Naoya Inoue holds the IBF super bantamweight title. He is, for my money, the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet right now — a devastating, technically brilliant operator who can knockout anyone at 122 pounds inside the distance. Goodman has just re-established himself as the IBF mandatory challenger. That means, in theory, Inoue must face him or vacate.
In practice? Inoue's team will be looking at Goodman and calculating the risk. The Monster has been announced for a homecoming fight against Junto Nakatani in Tokyo, so there's a queue. But Goodman's position in that queue is now official and undeniable. This is an Australian fighter with genuine technical chops, a solid chin, and — as we saw tonight — the character to come back from adversity. He's levels below Inoue, if I'm being honest with you. The Japanese champion is operating in a different atmosphere entirely. But Goodman belongs in that conversation, and tonight he proved why.
My prediction? Goodman eventually gets his shot, probably later in 2026 or into 2027. When he does, Inoue finishes him — but it won't be a walk. Goodman will make it competitive, he'll land some shots, and he'll give the Monster more than most. That's a fight I'd genuinely want to watch, and that's more than you can say for half the matchups at world level right now.
Ruiz Wasn't a Pushover
Credit where it's due — Rodrigo Ruiz is no bum. He came to Wollongong with a puncher's chance and he very nearly used it in round two. The overhand left that rocked Goodman was a brilliant shot, precise and powerful. Ruiz is a credible operator at this level — he punches hard, he moves well, and he didn't quit when the body work started piling up. Falling to Goodman in an IBF eliminator isn't a disaster for his career, but it does reset his path to a world title shot. He'll regroup. He'll be back. But tonight was Goodman's night, and Ruiz can have no complaints about the scorecards.