Boxing Updates: Faiga Opelu vs. Joe Goodall Added to Vasyl Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. Card, Sam Goodman Now a Free Agent

Vasyl Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr.‘s lightweight title clash is making its way to Australia, a bit later than expected. Top Rank Inc., led by Bob Arum, is working on sealing a deal with the Australian government to host the fight in Perth, a city far from Kambosos’ hometown of Sydney.

Despite the change in plans, the shift to Perth showcases the global appeal of this championship bout. Besides the venue, the undercard fights have also started to line up, as the recent report has announced another undercard bout on the Lomachenko-Kambosos title card.

The key fights on the Vasyl Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos Jr. Card

Australia’s Moloney twins, Jason and Andrew, are expected to feature on the Lomachenko-Kambosos undercard. Jason Moloney‘s participation depends on the healing of a cut sustained during his impressive victory over Saul Sanchez. Fighting through adversity, Moloney secured a majority decision win in a thrilling back-and-forth bout on the Beterbiev-Smith undercard.

Meanwhile, Andrew Moloney is poised for a WBO 115-pound elimination match against an opponent to be determined. The Moloney brothers’ potential presence on the undercard promises more exciting matchups alongside the headline event. In addition to these fights, Faiga Opelu will also be fighting in the undercard of the event against Joe Goodall.

While most fighters prepare for a title bout with dedicated training and rest, Faiga Opelu, a 29-year-old father of four working full-time as a scaffolder, defied expectations. Remarkably, on the day he contested for the Australian title against Justis Huni, Opelu didn’t take a break from his demanding job and worked a full eight-hour shift on a construction site. He told News Corp, “I go to work, then I go to training and then I go back to work … sometimes in reverse order.”

Meanwhile, Standing at six-foot-five, Joe Goodall boasts an impressive amateur career, with nearly 70 victories in approximately 90 fights. After turning pro in 2018, Goodall’s global recognition soared in July when he caused an upset to Stephan Shaw, stopping the heavyweight prospect in the sixth round of their scheduled eight-round bout. However, his recent bout had a different outcome, as he faced a knockout in just four rounds at the hands of Efe Ajagba.

So, the event is taking shape gradually, and the undercard fights are being lined up as fans look forward to the May 11th main event. Another boxing update that took the fans by surprise concerns super-bantamweight boxer Sam Goodman.

Sam Goodman opts to be a ‘free agent’

At The Star in Sydney, No Limit wrapped up their final event of the year on Friday, featuring super bantamweight contender Sam Goodman. With this victory, Goodman notched his fourth win of the year in a tough twelve-round unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Zhong Liu. Currently holding the number one contender position under both the WBO and IBF, Goodman stands on the brink of a significant opportunity.

His position sets the stage for a potential shot against the undisputed champion Naoya Inoue, as he won his last bout against Marlon Tapales. So, now that the bigger fights are getting lined up for him, he’s decided to keep the profits to himself. According to the latest report, Sam Goodman has chosen the path of being the promotional free agent.

Read More: Boxing News: Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum Provides Update on Naoya Inoue’s May Return

Well, only time will tell if it would turn out to be a fruitful decision for the potential undisputed challenger or not. What are your thoughts about these developments? Tell us in the comments section.

Watch This Story: Boxers With Hilarious Meanings of Their Names on Urban Dictionary