Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue will be fighting for the fourth time in 363 days on December 24 when he defends his title against Sam Goodman in Tokyo.

Should the heavy favorite Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) be successful against Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs), the Japanese fighter’s 2025 campaign could be a world tour of sorts.

“The positioning of this fight is one where I want to fight outside of Japan in 2025. I hope to fight in the US in 2025,” Inoue said during a recent media day at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, Japan. “That's why I think this is an important fight for me. It's cold in Japan right now but I want to put on a red-hot fight. My aim is that this fight will exceed everyone's expectations. I hope you all have high expectations for me. I am going to win this fight … Goodman always goes for the victory. I wouldn't say that it worries me exactly, but I think that's his strength.”

The pound-for-pound star and future Hall of Famer Inoue has fought just four times outside of Japan throughout his illustrious 12-year career, and the 31-year-old’s eagerness to fight around the world will only raise his profile even further.

Earlier this year, Inoue co-promoter and Top Rank boss Bob Arum alluded to a big event in Las Vegas headlined by Inoue against the best available opponent. In November, Inoue also signed a deal to be an ambassador to Riyadh Season, and Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, alluded to “big surprises coming soon.”

“I gave him options and I gave him an offer," Alalshikh recently said on DAZN. "I think we will see, hopefully, Inoue in my country in 2025 for a big card.”

Inoue defended his 122-pound crown against Luis Nery in May and TJ Doheny in September, both by stoppages, and he’s looking to do the same against Goodman. To prepare for the Australian southpaw, Inoue employed sparring partners like 2024 Japanese Olympian Shudai Harada as well as Japhethlee Llamido from Los Angeles.

“I think Goodman is a very good point-scoring boxer,” said Shingo Inoue, Naoya’s father and head coach. “Naoya needs to be careful of that and fight his own game. I think the fight will start to break down from the middle distance. I think Naoya will put on the pressure, close the distance, try different things, and stick to the game plan.”

Next year could also be the time when the four-division champion Inoue embarks on making a run at 126 pounds.

“I've been able to maintain my condition well,” said Inoue. “I don't see any problems regarding my condition. I feel confident. My stamina has been really good in training. I know I can box with confidence whether it's in terms of technique or stamina. I also want to be careful about things like injuries and weight while I'm in camp.

“There will be fans in attendance who have never seen boxing before. For those fans, I would like to show them one of the most exciting parts of boxing, which is the knockout. And for the boxing fans who are knowledgeable about boxing, I would like to show them then detailed tactics and techniques.”