TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Undisputed super bantamweight boxing world champion Naoya Inoue's Christmas Eve bout was postponed by a month on Saturday after his opponent, the top-ranked IBF and WBO contender, Australian Sam Goodman, was hurt while sparring.

Inoue's Ohashi Gym said the whole event at Tokyo's Ariake Arena, including WBO bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei's title defense against Yuttapong Tongdee of Thailand, has been pushed back to Jan. 24 and will be held at the same venue.

Australian media ABC reported Goodman, who was to arrive in Japan on Monday, sustained a cut above his left eye during his final sparring session in Australia on Saturday morning and needed four stitches after what he called "a freak accident".

"I'm absolutely devastated to be doing this, but it is what it is," Goodman said on Instagram, stating he was advised by his support team to withdraw and not fight someone of Inoue's caliber while compromised.

Inoue wrote "Let's both fight in our best possible condition" on X.

The 31-year-old Inoue is 28-0 in his career with 25 knockouts, while 26-year-old Goodman is 19-0 with eight KOs.