Nishida did exactly that when claiming a seventh-round technical decision against hard-charging Bryan Mercado in their IBF 122-pound eliminator on February 15.

That saw Nishida ranked No. 6 by The Ring at junior featherweight, within touching distance of a second world title shot.

The tall 30-year-old southpaw looks to move even closer Sunday when meeting Sam Goodman for the vacant IBF interim junior featherweight title at Tokyo's Toyota Arena.

"I want to be junior featherweight champion," Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs) told The Ring. "Goodman is big, but I am bigger."

The Japanese fighter has always sought to test himself. He beat former world champion Daigo Higa over 12 rounds in his fourth fight in April 2021, before besting future WBO bantamweight titleholder Christian Medina over the same distance four fights later.

He followed that by outpointing Emmanuel Rodriguez to become the IBF champion, then made one title defense before losing his unbeaten record and belt against Junto Nakatani (TKO6) in a June 2025 unification.

After being matched with Goodman, his team was keen to secure the fight on Japanese shores. Nishida's manager-promoter Takashi Edagawa of Muto Promotions beat No Limit with a $610,000 purse bid and justified the outlay.

"If we went to Australia, it would be tough to win on points," Edagawa said. "If Nishida was a knockout puncher, it is OK, but he is a technical boxer ... I do still think there's a chance to get a knockout."

The aim is for the winner to compete for Ring and undisputed champion Naoya Inoue, who is considering his options in two weight divisions.

"Inoue is the champion but I want to face him," said Nishida. "He is the No. 1 boxer [pound-for-pound], it's a challenge and one I want."

Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs), The Ring's No. 2 junior featherweight, worked his way through the domestic scene in Australia. The 27-year-old excelled to beat former titlist TJ Doheny, before edging past previously unbeaten Ra'eese Aleem in an IBF eliminator.

He had twice been tabbed to face Inoue before a bad sparring cut curtailed those plans.

Goodman was offered to fight for featherweight world honors, running then-WBA ruler Nick Ball close before losing a 12-round decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has won two straight on his return to 122 pounds, including Rodrigo Ruiz in April.