West Gosford’s Sam Goodman has fallen short in his first world title attempt, suffering the first defeat of his professional career in Saudi Arabia against English champion Nick Ball.
The 26-year-old entered the fight undefeated (20-0) but, after moving up a division to contest the WBA featherweight belt, was beaten in a gruelling 12-round contest that ended in a unanimous decision to Ball.
The judges scored the bout 117-111, 118-110 and 115-113 — margins that have since raised eyebrows, with many in the boxing community questioning whether they reflected the even nature of the fight.
Goodman was visibly disappointed as the scores were read out but remained proud of his effort.
“I stood tall in the deep end but it wasn’t what I came here for,” Goodman said.
“But we keep moving forward, regroup and get better – nothing changes.”
Goodman was originally training under Joel Keegan at Umina PCYC before the gym transitioned to Complete Boxing at West Gosford, which has since become his training base and one of the Coast’s leading boxing hubs.
The grassroots foundation has carried him all the way to the world stage, with strong community backing at every step.
Despite the sting of defeat, Goodman expressed gratitude for the experience and the support he received from his team and fans.
“What an honour to fight in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“The result wasn’t what I was after but I’m looking forward to getting back here and writing my wrongs.”
Goodman also paid tribute to his team and loyal supporters who travelled overseas and those cheering from home.
“Thanks to everyone who came over to support and showed love back home — I felt it all,” he said.
“To my team, I wouldn’t be on this journey without you.
“The show goes on; we will be back and I will be world champion.
His promoter and No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose didn’t hold back when asked about the decision.
“I thought the judging was terrible, but we knew going in we weren’t going to get any favours,” he said.
“I didn’t agree with those scorecards at all — Sammy deserved far better.”
Rose said Goodman had shown exactly why he belongs at the highest level.
“He proved he belongs on the world stage and showed he’s truly world class,” he said.
“Sammy stepped up a division for this world title fight and delivered an exceptional performance.
“He made Australia proud and showed he’s ready for more big nights like this.”
While Goodman’s defeat has denied him a world title for now, his grit, resilience, and the backing of the Central Coast community have many convinced that his time as a world champion is still to come.
Skaie Hull
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