After Eye Injury, Goodman Misses Out on World Title Shot

Australian Sam Goodman was set to challenge Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue for the undisputed Super Bantamweight world champion title on December 24 last year. The highly anticipated fight, billed as the “Nightmare on Christmas Eve,” was supposed to be held at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The undefeated Australian boxer was ready to put his unblemished 19-0 record on the line against Inoue, a four-weight world champion and hailed as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers.

The showdown, however, was postponed and rescheduled to January 24. During his final training session in Australia, Goodman suffered a left eye cut, which led to him sitting out the next couple of weeks to recover, as advised by his management. "I just want the chance to have a crack against him [Inoue] for all those belts. And hopefully we can get it on sooner rather than later once this cut heals up," Goodman said.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

World Title shot slips away

In January, Goodman once again lost out on his shot to win the world title. The Australian boxer suffered another eye injury after reopening his cut during a sparring session, with the newer cut being “significantly worse” than the first one. Goodman had to get four stitches, and No Limit promoter Matt Rose said that the Australian fighter would have to undergo plastic surgery to avoid the same issue from reoccurring. “All he’s done for the past four months is prepare like there is no tomorrow… And now it’s all been ripped away from him,” Rose said.

Goodman, who is ranked #1 globally by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and is among the World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) top contenders, was “devastated” by the missed opportunity. “If I had it my way, I’d like to proceed with the fight,” Goodman stated. “But taking on a guy like this [Inoue], my team, ah, my team were just saying I wouldn’t have the same team in my corner letting me go into a fight like this compromised.”

What’s next for Goodman?

Aside from the elusive opportunity to snatch four title belts – the WBO, IBF, World Boxing Association, and World Boxing Council belts – from Inoue, the January showdown would have given Goodman a game-changing payout of well over a $1 million. The good news is that Goodman may still have a shot at a world title after being informed that the IBF and WBO intend to keep him their mandatory world title challenger. This means the Australian boxer can return to a super bantamweight world title fight in May or early June. For now, he is focused on recovering from his eye injury. However, Goodman’s injuries aren't the only example of boxers missing out on major opportunities due to eye issues.

Eye injuries in boxing

Due to the high-contact nature of the sport, boxers are particularly vulnerable to eye damage. While professional boxers will generally have their own medical teams to assess injuries, a regular eye exam can also play a crucial role in identifying potential vision issues that may affect boxers' performance. During an eye test, an ophthalmologist will conduct assessments like eye muscle coordination tests to evaluate visual function and detect and treat possible issues. For instance, American boxer Errol Spence Jr. suffered a retinal detachment during sparring weeks before facing Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao in 2021, and it took an eye exam to confirm he needed to get his left eye fixed. This highlights the importance of eye tests to prevent vision issues from worsening.

Combat sports like boxing cannot implement satisfactory eye protection as professional boxing events do not typically allow wearing protective goggles and headgear during fights. However, boxers can use protective equipment during training to avoid unwanted eye injuries before big fights, similar to what happened to Goodman and Spence. Another example of a significant eye injury was back in 2020 when British Heavyweight contender Daniel Dubois had a career-threatening orbital bone fracture and eye nerve damage during his match with Joe Joyce.

Sam Goodman’s unfortunate eye injuries highlight the need for boxers to prioritize vision health to avoid missing out on big opportunities. By taking the proper preventive measures indicated above, boxers can prevent ocular issues from compromising their professional careers.