Australian boxer Sam Goodman has been officially designated by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to contest the interim super-bantamweight world title against Japan’s Ryosuke Nishida. The matchup settles recent uncertainty following reports that Goodman might instead face WBC champion Ramon Cardenas.

Goodman, ranked second by the IBF in the super-bantamweight division, is set to face Nishida, the IBF’s top-ranked contender, in a fight with significant implications. The winner is expected to earn a high-profile bout against reigning pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue.

This development concludes a tumultuous period for Goodman, who has been dubbed Australia’s unluckiest boxer after two previous opportunities to fight Inoue were aborted due to cut injuries sustained during training. Following these setbacks, Goodman moved up a weight class and last year went the full distance against WBA featherweight world champion Nick Ball in Saudi Arabia.

Goodman’s current momentum includes a unanimous decision victory over the previously undefeated Rodrigo Fabian Ruiz in Wollongong in April 2026. Meanwhile, Nishida, holding an 11-1 record, has suffered only one defeat—last year to fellow Japanese standout Junto Nakatani.

The planning of this title fight involved significant behind-the-scenes negotiations. Matt Rose, head of No Limit, Goodman’s management, traveled to the IBF’s annual convention in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, last month to discuss the bout. Prior to the IBF’s final decision last week, Goodman was still being considered for world title fights under the WBO and WBC sanctioning bodies.

With the interim title on the line, the encounter between Goodman and Nishida is expected to be a key stepping stone toward a possible showdown with Inoue, who remains one of boxing’s most formidable competitors in the division. The exact date and location of the Goodman-Nishida fight have yet to be announced.