Sam 'The Ghost" Goodman edges closer to title shot after outpointing Ra"eese "The Beast" Aleem

If you didn’t know the name Sam ‘The Ghost’ Goodman before the weekend, you should now.

The 24-year-old from Albion Park in New South Wales, Australia cemented his credentials with a 12-round points decision victory over Ra’eese ‘The Beast’ Aleem last weekend in an IBF super bantamweight title eliminator.

The fight was the main support bout to clash between junior middleweights Tim Tszyu and Carlos Ocampo at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia on Sunday afternoon local time.

The fight was close to even at the halfway point but by then Goodman 15-0 (7) had figured out Aleem 20-1 (12), running away with the fight in the last six rounds.

The only surprise was that the bout was ruled a split decision. Judge Daniel Sandoval scored 116-112 for Goodman, while judge Adam Height had the same boxer winning by a slightly wider score of 117-111. Masakazu Murase was the dissenting judge, turning in a card of 116-112 for Aleem.

There was a nervous moment for Goodman when the cards were read out.

“I thought it was madness,” Goodman told Fox Sports Australia. “I was shocked, there’s no other word for it.

“I was praying they didn’t rob me, that the other two judges had their senses about them a bit.

“I thought seven-five to me. I thought I won the last six easy and the early ones, there was nothing in them so I would’ve had to get a couple.

“It was about reacting and finding a way to put the hurt on him.”

Goodman blamed the cut over his eye that required stitches on head clashes from the 32-year-old from Muskegon, Michigan.

“It was ridiculous… my eye was hanging,” Goodman said. “I remember starting one round, dominating and last minute – bang – head clash. Big cut. Straight away it was dripping into my eye.

“But I dealt with it and got through.”

The IBF ranked Goodman at number four and Aleem at number five in the 122-pound weight class going into the bout with the top two slots vacant.

Goodman now has his sights set on a world title shot against Filipino southpaw Marlon ‘Nightmare’ Tapales 37-3 (19), who claimed the IBF and WBA straps in his last bout with an upset win over Uzbek lefty Murodjon Akhmadaliev 11-0 (8) in April.

Before that fight happens Goodman may pursue a hometown bout in Wollongong, just 20 kilometres up the road from Albion Park.

“It’s a possibility, definitely,” Goodman said. “I just have to see how my cuts heal up.

“But best believe I’m getting straight back in the gym and pushing for a fight against IBF champ Marlon Tapales this year.”