After facing off in the ring with pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue after his last bout, many boxing fans were surprised to see Sam Goodman (18-0) take a fight with little-known Thai Chainoi Worawut (25-0-1).
The Australian, who is ranked number one with the WBO and IBF at super bantamweight, will host the hard-hitting Worawut in his hometown of Wollongong on Wednesday, July 10.
Goodman has copped some heat for the decision, with critics suggesting the undefeated 26-year-old is delaying a potential fight with the Japanese knockout artist, potentially in the hope Inoue moves up in weight.
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The rising star did find an unexpected ally in Worawut, who said he understood why Goodman would want to fight him before a possible undisputed showdown with "The Monster".
"I think I agree with what Sam thinks because Inoue is not easy to fight with, so you have to find someone close in terms of the speed and the weight of the punch," Worawut said via interpreter.
Worawut, or "Rock Man", certainly poses a threat to Goodman's mandatory position, and with 15 knockouts to his name, could well and truly spoil the party for the crowd favourite at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
"I think it's because he would like to try an Asian style or similar to someone from Asia, so it can be like a preliminary match or something like that to just warm him up first," Worawut continued.
"But he also has the risk of fighting with me to because I've been preparing myself.
"I also have the intention to fight with Inoue one day, too."
With Goodman off the table in the short term, Inoue is reportedly still lining up a fight for September.
The Aussie is hoping to get through his fight with Worawut unscathed before targeting a shot at all the belts at 122-pounds in December.
"I'm potentially going against one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at the end of the year, I've got to be in those sort of contests," told Jai McAllister last month.
"I've got to get through the next one and then it's on to the big one. It's all about testing myself and pushing myself and putting myself in uncomfortable positions.
"It's a fight [Inoue] I truly believe I can win. Timing for the September fight just didn't work out with this. We'll wait until December."
Goodman will headline the July 10 card which also features a cross-code contest between ex-AFL great Barry Hall and exiled former rugby league player Curtis Scott.
Sam Goodman vs. Chainoi Worawut fight card
Bouts and order subject to change
- Sam Goodman vs. Chainoi Worawut; super bantamweight
- Barry Hall vs. Curtis Scott; heavyweight
- Liam Wilson vs. Youssef Dib; lightweight
- Mounir Fathi vs. Anton Markovic; super welterweight
- Brandon Grach vs. John Malia; heavyweight
- Billy Polkinghorn vs. Jordan Kasilieris; super lightweight
- Liam Talivaa vs. Johan Linde; heavyweight
- Shanell Dargan vs. Pannaporn Kaewpawong; featherweight
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