Sam Goodman has declared that by the end of 2024 he “wants to be a world champion” after taking care of the previously undefeated Zhong Liu in a unanimous decision win on Friday.
It came after Liam Wilson and Jackson England fought out an all-Australian 10-round war in what was an enthralling co-main event in No Limit’s last fight event of the calendar year.
Goodman and Liu also went the distance, with the Chinese southpaw fighter proving a tricky customer for the Australian, who has big ambitions for the new year.
“What a puzzle he was to figure out… he was very tricky to pin down,” Goodman said post-fight.
“He was very awkward… I think people are sort of overlooking him, I certainly wasn’t… I pressed the fight, I went forward, I landed the cleaner shots and I tried to win the fight.”
For a full round-by-round recap of all the fights from Friday’s card, scroll down to the blog below!
Goodman, who is the number one contender at super bantamweight with the IBF and WBO, extended his unbeaten record to 17-0 with his latest win.
Attention now turns to the title fight between Naoya Inoue and Marlon Tapales later this month, with Goodman in line to take on the winner.
“A win is a win… I’m happy with it. It’s been a big year, four fights… world titles [are on the horizon in 2024], line them up,” added Goodman.
“By the end of next year I want to be a world champion.”
In fact, Goodman’s goals extend beyond just being a world champion. The Australian told foxsports.com.au earlier in the week he is looking to follow in the footsteps of Jeff Fenech.
“I want to win multiple world titles and put myself up there as one of the best this country has ever produced,” Goodman said.
Friday’s win may have not produced the finish some would have been hoping for but that said more about Liu’s unorthodox style.
In fact, it was a credit to Goodman too that he did not lose patience and hunt the finish, instead staying with what worked on his way to a unanimous decision win.
Tensions rise as fiery face-off unfolds | 02:44
Earlier, Wilson also had quite the challenge against England, who refused to go away despite being left a bloodied mess after he appeared to be fading at the end of the seventh round of their bout.
It is no wonder England had not been stopped before Friday’s fight and that remained the case after facing Wilson, who hunted down the finish but couldn’t find it.
“It was exactly what I expected, Jackson is a tough customer,” Wilson said post-fight.
Wilson, who took the victory by unanimous decision (96-94 x2, 97-93), said that if George Kambosos’ reported fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko falls through he would target an “All-Australian showdown next”, even if it means moving up to lightweight.
“Let’s make the fight happen,” Wilson said.
Wilson improved his record to 13-2 with the win and even if the Kambosos Jr. fight does not happen his sights will still be set on world title redemption after a controversial loss to Emanuel Navarrete earlier this year.
It is impressive Wilson has been able to quickly re-establish himself given the contentious circumstances of that bout, where a “27-second count” robbed him of the WBO crown.
Wilson easily defeated Argentina’s Carlos Alanis on points in his first bout since that world title loss and the WBO number-two ranked fighter is ready to shoot for glory again in 2024.
Goodman previews upcoming Liu clash | 02:14
Elsewhere, Ibrahim Balla — who Ben Damon said had really been “in the wilderness” having not fought this year — stunned Youssef Dib to hand him the first defeat of his pro career.
Dib had an unblemished 19-0 record but was left looking “like a horror show” according to Damon, with an accidental head clash earlier in the fight opening up the 31-year-old.
Dib, who was ranked 10th with the IBF, was targeting a blockbuster all-Australian fight with George Kambosos down the line.
Instead he will have to rebound from the first loss of his career while Balla is the new IBF Australasian lightweight title holder.
FULL FIGHT CARD RESULTS
Sam Goodman vs. Zhong Liu via unanimous decision (119-109, 118-111, 120-108) – super bantamweight
Liam Wilson def. Jackson England via unanimous decision (96-94 x2, 97-93) – super featherweight
Ibrahim Balla def. Youssef Dib via majority points decision (95-95, 97-93, 100-90) – lightweight
Ahmed Reda def. Taunga Kairenga via second-round TKO – lightweight
Toese Vousiutu def. Nathaniel Tuteru via majority points decision (38-38, 40-36, 39-37) – heavyweight
Re-live all the action from the Goodman & Wilson Double Header in our blog below!
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