Top Five Opponents For Sam Goodman After Winning The IBF Interim Junior Featherweight Title

What is next for Sam Goodman?

On Sunday, Goodman (23-1, 8 KOs) won the interim IBF junior featherweight title against Ryosuke Nishida (11-2, 2 KOs) in Japan. The elephant in the room is obvious: Naoya Inoue.

Inoue has been the undisputed champion since 2023. Inoue has been on a sabbatical since defeating Junto Nakatani in a battle of pound-for-pound greats, but ironically, it might be Inoue’s most impressive year since the magic of 2023.

Will Goodman face Inoue, the elusive fight that got away from him? Who knows, but it almost certainly doesn’t seem like it will be next unless Goodman waits.

So let’s look at some options:

Naoya Inoue

Revisiting this bout, after it was scheduled a year or so ago, would be fun. It is also completely up to “The Monster” at this point. If he wants to go for super fights only or target a featherweight titleholder, either could work. Though I list this as most likely, given that he is the interim titleholder and consolidation being logical, it seems the boat has sailed on a Goodman fight, at least to me.

Junto Nakatani

Nakatani has been written off since his loss to Inoue in a great fight (yes, I said it). Nakatani facing Goodman is an extension of the classic we just saw with Goodman and Nishida, and it brings parity to the division. Have Nakatani, coming off a loss, battle one of the best in the division, and for Goodman, prove your spot by fending off a game challenger. The more I think about it, the more I love this fight.

Jose Tito Sanchez

A bit of a homer pick, but I have watched many regional Golden Boy Promotions cards, and Sanchez has really done well. His win over Jorge Chavez earlier this year was amazing. That type of win should be rewarded. After that performance, throw Sanchez in with Goodman and boost him to the world title level; he deserves it.

Ramon Cardenas

Cardenas is a name in the sport after dropping Inoue. If Goodman wants the Inoue fight but can’t land it, do the next best thing: fight one of the guys Inoue looked mortal against. Cardenas tends to make for good fights, and the bout could serve as a hometown title defense for Goodman.

Murodjon Akhmadaliev

Akhmadaliev still lingers in the division, but inactivity has plagued him since an upset loss to Marlon Tapales. It isn’t just inactivity per se, because he fights. It is more that he doesn’t consistently find himself in fights of consequence; as a result, he is seen as a high-risk, low-reward opponent who would need to be mandated to face Goodman.

Lucas Ketelle

Lucas Ketelle is a boxing writer and podcaster who has appeared on various platforms throughout his career.

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