Sam Noakes is confident that his strength and physicality will help him overcome Abdullah Mason in their upcoming WBO world lightweight title bout on Saturday. Noakes, a 28-year-old from Maidstone, Kent, England with a 17-0 record and 15 knockouts, will face Mason, a talented 21-year-old southpaw from Ohio, Saudi Arabia, who holds a 19-0 record with 17 knockouts, for the vacant championship.
Mason, recognized as one of boxing’s brightest young talents, was recently ranked No. 6 on ESPN’s Boxing Top 25 Under 25 list. Although Noakes has experience going the full 12 rounds twice, Mason has yet to fight past the sixth round. Noakes believes his physical conditioning could prove to be the deciding factor in the later rounds of the fight.
Noakes told ESPN, “I don’t think there was a better time to fight for a world title. He may think now is his moment, but there can only be one winner—and it won’t be him.” He acknowledged Mason’s confidence and gym sparring efforts but emphasized the importance of this world title opportunity. Though Mason has more fights overall, Noakes is optimistic that his physicality will dominate in the later stages. He also noted Mason’s technical skill and speed but mentioned Mason’s past loss to Yoan Vazquez, emphasizing his own aggressive style to wear down opponents as a potential advantage.
Fan Take: This title fight is a pivotal moment for two undefeated young stars, showcasing fresh talent that could shape the lightweight division for years. Fans should watch closely as the contrasting styles and physical endurance could deliver an exciting and defining bout for the sport’s future.
