Sam Goodman’s Mexican rival will sensationally lose a third of his purse should he weighs in heavy for Wednesday night’s No Limit showcase in Sydney, with the unbeaten Australian super bantamweight declaring: “Get in the sauna, or get f***ed”.
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 >
The revelation comes as Australian boxing poster boy Harry Garside has also rejected a $100,000 offer to make a late switch of opponents in his own hyped return to the professional ranks.
Despite Garside being offered a six-figure wager by undefeated lightweight Ahmad Reda, and then branded “a b****” and cat, Garside has refused to entertain switching to face his former amateur rival — who is also fighting on the undercard — and instead take his scheduled fight with tough Queenslander Charlie Bell.
Goodman, meanwhile, has also vowed to fight Mexico’s Cesar Veca no matter what he weighs Tuesday — but will be significantly compensated if faced with a weight discrepancy.
Five months on from losing his $1 million blockbuster with Japanese megastar Naoya Inoue, Fox Sports Australia can reveal Goodman is in for a huge purse bonus if rival Cesar Vaca hits the scales heavy on Tuesday.
Already, the Mexican’s team have asked for – and been granted – a catchweight for the Hordern Pavilion headliner, which is two pounds (0.9kg) over the super bantamweight limit.
However on Sunday, Goodman’s rival then requested another pound, with their fighter potentially looking for a weight advantage against the man who, apart from being undefeated in all 19 fights, also remains the IBF mandatory for Inoue.
Quizzed on the weight drama after Monday’s press conference, Goodman explained the catchweight before adding: “And now they have come to us yesterday, asking for another pound.
MORE: Presser derailed by rival’s $100k offer for Aussie Olympian
‘Bring something’ – Garside & Reda CLASH | 01:32
“So I said ‘yeah, you can have that — if you want to give me a chunk of your purse’.
“Basically, it’s get in the sauna or get f***ed.
“It’s fairly simple.
“We’ve already given them two pounds.
“And right through this camp, I’ve sacrificed and been disciplined with my diet.
“But if he hasn’t?
“OK, get in the sauna.”
And if he misses weight on Tuesday?
“He also pays me,” Goodman grinned. “Because I’m making weight.
“This will actually now be one of the easiest cuts of my life.
“Where I’m at right now, I could still make super bantamweight tomorrow.
“So if he doesn’t (make the catchweight) there are financial penalties.
“And if he misses, they’ll be going straight into my back pocket.
“That’s what I’ve told (No Limit boss) Matt Rose …”
So you will still fight him?
“Oh, a million per cent,” Goodman replied. “But it will be for more money.”
Asked for his own take on the drama via an interpreter, the Mexican said of potentially giving up a chunk of his purse: “It won’t happen.
“I will not pay anything.
“There is a fee for not making weight – 30 per cent.
“But I will make weight.”
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 >
The surprise weight drama comes as Garside was also offered $100,000 to switch opponents in his co-main bout against Queenslander Bell — and instead face rising Sydney lightweight Reda.
Back in 2023, Garside beat Reda for a spot on Australia’s Olympic team and, ever since the pair turned professional, the latter has been chasing hard for a rematch, convinced it was only Garside’s profile that got him the win first time around.
During Monday’s press conference, Garside suggested he would only fight Reda (5-0) if his old amateur rival had something new to offer.
At which point, a shock $50,000 offer was made by Garside’s former manager Peter Mitrevski — who now oversees the career of 22-year-old Australian prospect, Reda.
When rejected, the winner-takes-all bet was then doubled.
Garside, however, again rejected it, suggesting Reda was simply trying to build some hype around his name.
The Sydney lightweight disagreed however.
“We’ve been asking to fight Harry for ages, but he hasn’t replied,” Reda told Fox Sports Australia after the press conference was done.
“Hasn’t said anything back.
“So today we put $100,000 on the line.
“We said ‘you fight me Wednesday night, and it’s winner take all’.
“But he says he’s already shaken hands with his opponent.
“So, I dunno? Maybe if I get him a box of nail polish he’ll fight me.
“I mean, a hundred grand … what else could you want?”
Garside: ‘The only way out is through’ | 01:45
Regardless, Reda suggested a showdown between the two was inevitable.
“Because he’s talking about winning world titles,” the Sydneysider continued. “But how can you do that if you can’t even face me.
“At some point, you’re going to have to try and get me out of the way because we’re both chasing the same thing.
“So we’ll see who is the best.”
Asked about their growing rivalry, Reda continued: “We fought in the Olympic qualifiers and, in the final, he beat me.
“But he didn’t really beat me.
“He was running like a b***.
“But because he has a name and a following, it’s all eyes on him (with the judges) whenever he jumps in the ring.
“Doesn’t matter who he takes on, it’s all eyes on Harry.
“So unless you knock him out, you’re not winning that fight.
“And that pisses me off.
“But now we’re in the professionals.
“It’s going to be a different, and he knows that.
“It’s why he won’t take this fight.”
Soon after, the youngster continued: “Who is Harry Garside really?
“He’s nothing.
“And I want to be the one that proves it.
“We understand Garside has his followers, that’s why No Limit are pushing him.
“But to have him as a co-main event? To me, it makes no sense.
“He’s only had the three professional fights and challenged no one special.
“The guy is nothing special, either.
“Has no punching power, no boxing IQ.
“He punches like a b****.
“I’ve got no idea why he is up there on the top stage and think it’s disrespectful to Sam Goodman, putting (Garside) there alongside him.
“Sam Goodman, he absolutely deserves to be headlining cards.
“But Harry Garside’s done nothing special and isn’t exciting.
“He doesn’t deserve it.
“We want real fighters in Australia, not cats.”
Meanwhile, Charlie Bell’s team shrugged off the $100,000 drama, pointing out they were already contracted to fight Garside on Wednesday night.
“Our fight is made,” said Bell’s father and trainer, Chris.
“We’ve got a contract.
“I know (Reda) is trying to get himself onto the next No Limit card.
“And that’s understandable.
“Probably went a long way to doing that today, too.
“But for Charlie, this is the best preparation he’s ever had.
“The best I’ve seen him.”
Any chance the $100,000 bet, and surrounding noise works in your favour?
“Harry has spent enough time in the media,” the trainer said.
“What happened today, that will be water off a duck’s back for him.
“But when it comes to Harry Garside’s style, we’ve seen things.
“I’ve sent footage of him to the best boxing brains I know and, together, we’ve picked him apart.
“We’ve all seen the same things and that’s what we’ve been working on for 10 weeks.
“We’re confident.”
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 >
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