Sam Goodman faced disappointment in his pursuit of the WBA featherweight title, suffering a controversial unanimous decision defeat to Nick Ball. The previously undefeated Australian boxer showcased commendable resilience during their intense 12-round clash, occurring on Sunday morning (AEST). Despite landing 174 punches compared to Ball’s 139, two of the judges awarded the fight to Ball with scores of 117-111, 118-110, and 115-113.
Promoter George Rose, from No Limit Boxing, expressed his frustration with the judging but praised Goodman’s performance, asserting that he demonstrated his ability to compete at an elite level. Rose remarked, “Sammy stepped up a division for this world title fight and delivered an exceptional performance. He made Australia proud and showed he’s ready for more big nights.” The sentiments echoed on social media, with commentator Ben Damon denouncing the scoring as “despicable.”
Prominent Saudi sports promoter Turki Alalshikh also commended Goodman’s skills, suggesting that the rounds were closely contested and expressing a desire to see Goodman in future boxing events in Riyadh.
Further complicating Goodman’s challenge, it was revealed post-fight that he suffered a shoulder injury during the bout. This defeat adds to what has already been a demanding year for the 26-year-old, who had initially been preparing to face Japanese star Naoya Inoue for the undisputed super-bantamweight title before sustaining cuts in training. Following this loss, Goodman’s professional record stands at 21 wins and one defeat.