Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman – Early Odds and Match Preview
Naoya Inoue and Sam Goodman are set to face off in a highly anticipated boxing match on December 24, 2024, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. This Christmas Eve showdown will see Inoue defend his undisputed super bantamweight championship, putting all four major belts (WBO, IBF, WBC, and WBA) on the line.
Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman
Naoya Inoue is a Japanese boxing superstar with an impressive undefeated record of 28 wins, including 25 knockouts. At 31 years old, he’s already a four-weight world champion and is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Inoue is known for his devastating punching power and technical skills, having won his last nine fights by knockout. Early sportsbooks are offering very one-sided bets for this matchup.
On the other side, we have Sam Goodman, a 26-year-old undefeated Australian boxer with a record of 19 wins, including 8 knockouts. Goodman has earned his shot at the title by becoming the mandatory challenger for the IBF belt. He’s known for his elusive boxing style. This will be Goodman’s first fight outside of Australia.
The contrast in styles makes this an intriguing matchup. Inoue is the aggressive power puncher with a knockout percentage of 89%, while Goodman is more of a pure boxer who relies on his footwork and defensive skills.
For Naoya Inoue, this fight represents a chance to further cement his legacy and potentially set up bigger fights in the future, possibly in the United States. For Goodman, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime – a chance to shock the world and dethrone one of boxing’s biggest stars.
Early Odds
Based on the current betting odds, Naoya Inoue is the overwhelming favorite to win the upcoming fight against Sam Goodman. To put it in perspective, most sportsbooks are offering odds around -2500 for Inoue, which means you would need to bet $2,500 just to win $100 if he emerges victorious.
This indicates that bookmakers consider an Inoue win to be highly likely. On the other hand, Goodman is listed as a significant underdog with odds around +1200, meaning a $100 bet on him would potentially return $1,200 if he pulls off the upset.
Some betting exchanges are offering even more lopsided odds. For instance, on one platform, Inoue’s odds are as low as 1.04 (equivalent to -2500 in American odds), while Goodman’s odds are as high as 24.00 (+2300). This further emphasizes the perceived gap in skill.
It’s worth noting that while these odds suggest a very likely win for Inoue, they are not quite as extreme as his previous fight against TJ Doheny, where he was a -6500 favorite. This slight difference might indicate that oddsmakers view Goodman as a somewhat more formidable opponent than Doheny, albeit still a significant underdog.
The fight will be broadcast internationally, with viewers in the UK able to watch it on Sky Sports and those in the US catching the action on ESPN+. Given the time difference, fans in the Western Hemisphere will need to wake up early on Christmas Eve to watch this Naoya Inoue match.
