Sam Goodman lifts lid on cruel $1m blow… and how ‘freakish’ injury sparked ‘Spartan’ life

Australia’s Sam Goodman has explained his decision to forgo plastic surgery on the worrying scar tissue which, over his left eye, requires daily treatment while also leaving the fighter $1 million light, living a Spartan lifestyle and stressing “I need to fight”.

Goodman vs Vaca | WED 14 MAY 7PM AEST | Australia’s undefeated Sam Goodman makes his long awaited return to the ring where he faces Mexico’s Cesar Vaca in Sydney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Still only three months on from the devastating cuts that cruelled his world title blockbuster against Japanese megastar Nayo Inoue, 26-year-old Goodman has revealed his decision to opt for “double stitching” on a severe cut that occurred not once, but twice in sparring.

Despite being forced to withdraw from what was supposed to be a $1 million Inoue showdown, the popular Albion Park product – and keen punter – still considers himself a $1.70 shot to eventually face the man who now defends all four super bantamweight titles against American Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas on Monday.

Yet to have any chance of reclaiming his shot with ‘The Monster’, Goodman must first win his upcoming Pay-Per-View headliner against tough Mexican Cesar Vaca Espinoza (19-1-1).

Should Goodman win the May 14 showcase in Sydney – which also includes returning Olympic medalist Harry Garside — he then hopes to catapult straight onto the undercard of Tim Tszyu’s world title rematch against Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas this July.

Yet while Goodman will start a short-priced favourite for the bout against Espinoza, there remains concerns over exactly how well the scar tissue over his eye has healed – with even the fighter himself conceding “no doctor will guarantee it won’t split again”.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, the undefeated super bantamweight also explained his decision to forgo plastic surgery in preparation for his return to the ring and, hopefully, another shot at Inoue.

Initially, the Australian title contender suffered a serious cut over the left eye during what was supposed to be his final sparring session before a Christmas Eve bout against the Japanese star.

Despite getting the fight delayed, Goodman then reopened the cut during what was going to be his sole contact session of the second preparation.

The Aussie stressed that while he has now come to terms, mentally, with what was a “freakish” situation, he is still well aware of the scarring that remains over the eye.

Asked if he ever catches sight of the wound when looking in a mirror, the fighter laughed: “Mate, I’m rubbing creams and ointments into it every night.

“I’ve also been told to massage it as much as I can too, break up the scar tissue, and I’m doing that constantly – when I’m at home sitting on the lounge, or sitting in the car, wherever.

“I also remember during the first few spars back, because my face was covered in Vaseline, some would flick off and I’d think ‘f***, have I been cut again’?

“So there was some of that concern there for a while.

“But we’re almost through everything now.

“Only two more spars to go.”

Asked about initial reports he would undergo surgery to prevent the cut from opening again, Goodman continued: “Almost immediately after the second cut, we spoke with a plastic surgeon who suggested I get things fixed there and then.

“But to get plastic surgery, I would’ve had to reopen the cut.

“So instead, we decided to get double stitching.

“That way there were internal stitches as well as those on the outside, which was a pretty big job in itself.

“About 15 stitches.”

But as for it being back to normal?

“I don’t want to say because I don’t want to put the mocker on myself,” Goodman shrugged.

“But right now in this camp, I’ve got through a bunch of rounds.

“I’ve got two spars to go this week before all the hard stuff is concluded.

“It’s all just been freakish really.

“First time it, it was a case of ‘f***, have I just been cut again?’. But then for the second one, I felt it pop.

“Knew straight away.

“And I know there is always a chance (it opens again).

“No doctor will tell you it won’t either because you’re getting punched in the head.

“So it is just something I have to manage.

“Initially, I was told to have 100 days off contact and I’ve done that.

“I’ve also converted to a nose bar headgear for sparring, and almost feel like I’m swimming in a pool of Vaseline.

“I’m doing everything I can to manage it … (laughs) which includes not getting hit.”

While all his focus right now is on Espinoza, who arrives in Australia next week, Goodman also remains convinced he will eventually get a showdown with Inoue – either in their current division or a weight class higher.

But as for what price the keen punter would have on Goodman-Inoue taking place?

“Oh f***,” he cackles, “there are so many factors.

“But I’d like to think I’m around $1.70.

“Because even if he moves up, so will I eventually.

“And if I have to chase him, I will.

“Obviously I can’t predict Inoue’s future, what he is doing or what his plans are.

“But I’m still the IBF mandatory.

“So I know if I win this fight I’ll be pushing for him again.

“I want to fight the guy.

“What’s happened to me twice, it’s freakish.

“But I have to dig myself out and it starts with this next fight.”

Speaking with Main Event’s Ben Damon this week, Goodman also revealed the financial strains that come with planning for a $1 million payday, only to then have it cruelly snatched away.

Quizzed on the impact, financially, of his cancelled fight, Goodman explained: “Yeah, so I had invested in another property, bought a house, but when you don’t fight, you don’t get paid.

“And not just the house, but the training camps — what we spent this training camp was through the roof.

“So you’ve got money spent, going out the door and no money coming in.

“It was an unfortunate situation.

“But I’m very lucky to have people that have been able to support me, from my sponsors, my family, my coaches, my team, my manager, the boys at No Limit — everyone, they just got around me … it’s been incredible and It’s made me very grateful for what I already have and reassured me of where I’m going.”

Reminded that, during the press conference to announce his upcoming fight, Goodman talked of not having a pot to p*** in and the fighter cackled: “I’ve been living the Spartan life for a while now.

“Me and my dog have been roughing it.

“Which checks the ego a little bit, you know.

“And I need a fight.

“I haven’t fought in 10 months, man.

“So it’s like 10 months without getting paid, you’ve got homeloans coming out and all this sort of stuff.

“But look, it’s just my turn to go through a bit of s****

“Everyone’s got time where they’ve got to go through a bit of adversity or whatever. And you know, there’s people that have been through a lot worse than this.”

Elsewhere, Goodman was asked by Fox Sports Australia about criticism surrounding the second cut, especially from those who questioned him sparring again.

“After the first cut, we’d only done conditioning and drill work without head contact,” he explained.

“But you can’t go in against Nayo Inoue lightly.

“And I’m also a guy who, to be at my best, I have to work my arse off.

“I can’t compete at that level otherwise.

“I’ve never been the talented kid, the fast kid, the strong kid.

“I’ve just stuck at this for a long, long time and worked hard.

“I’ve been consistent, relentless.

“I’m a f***ing hard worker, that’s what has got me to this point.”

Later, Goodman added: “After everything happened, I was f***ing spent.

“I’d just spent 20 weeks killing myself in the gym and then to have nothing at the end of it, it’s tough … and I did wonder if I could go again.

“But thankfully I’ve got great people to keep me accountable, keep me from kicking stones.

“And I’m not feeling sorry for myself.

“After a couple of days my mind was clear.

“I know where I want to go.”

Goodman vs Vaca | WED 14 MAY 7PM AEST | Australia’s undefeated Sam Goodman makes his long awaited return to the ring where he faces Mexico’s Cesar Vaca in Sydney. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.