Sam Goodman and Ryosuke Nishida have been ordered to negotiate a fight for the interim IBF super bantamweight title, with the winner moving into position for a future showdown against undisputed champion Naoya Inoue.
The IBF has given both camps 30 days to reach an agreement before the bout proceeds to purse bids.
Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs) enters the matchup ranked No. 2 by the IBF. The Australian contender twice saw scheduled fights with Inoue collapse after suffering cuts during training camps in late 2024 and early 2025.
After moving up in weight and losing to Nick Ball, Goodman returned to the super bantamweight division and has won two straight bouts to work his way back into title contention.
Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs), the IBF’s No. 1-ranked contender, previously held the organization’s bantamweight title. The Osaka native’s only professional defeat came against fellow Japanese standout Junto Nakatani.
Australian broadcaster Main Event announced the development on social media.
“IBF has officially mandated an interim IBF World Super Bantamweight Title fight between Australia’s Sam Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs) and Japan’s Ryosuke Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs), with the winner to face undisputed pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue.”
Inoue remains the IBF’s full champion while continuing his reign as the undisputed king at 122 pounds. The creation of an interim title ensures the division keeps moving while preserving the possibility of Goodman finally securing the opportunity that slipped away twice before.
For Nishida, the fight offers a chance to reclaim championship status in a second weight class. For Goodman, it represents another route back toward the Inoue matchup that has eluded him for nearly two years.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/15 at 12:06 PM
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