The British, Commonwealth and European lightweight champion is one of the most destructive fighters in British boxing and has stopped 14 of his 15 professional opponents.
On Saturday night, Sam Noakes brings down the curtain on a busy year with an intriguing, exciting-looking fight with former long reigning British featherweight titleholder Ryan Walsh at Wembley Arena. In September, Walsh, 29-4-2 (13 KOs), produced the most devastating performance of his own career to blow away the normally solid Reece Mould within a round. The win earned him his shot at Noakes and the 27-year-old from Maidstone was suitably impressed.
“Brilliant. You can’t fault it. I’m not gonna say he caught him cold to it was a lucky shot, it’s boxing. He’s obviously aimed to throw that shot,” Noakes, 15-0 (14 KOs), said during Queensberry’s ‘Locked In’ head to head show.
“Maybe Reece Mould overlooked him. Obviously, that win there has made me think I’m not going to do the same so I’m going in there level headed and I know it’s going to be the toughest fight my career without a doubt. He’s obviously very durable, he ain’t got no quit in him. He’s got a lot of experience, do you know what I’m saying? Then he’s obviously confident – oozing it he is – so he’s coming to win and I think it’s going to make for a good fight.”
Noakes started the year as a prospect but ends it as a genuine world title contender. He knocked out Lewis Sylvester to win the British title, outpointed the experienced Yvan Mendy to win the European title and then dominated and broke down Gianluca Ceglia over eight rounds. Noakes is ranked highly with the WBO, WBC and IBF and 2025 should see him enter world title contention as long as he gets past Walsh.
“When can you afford a slip up? I think, as I said, it’s just going to bring out the best in both of us. It’s a good, live fight. It’s just business as usual,” he said.
“I can definitely feel that it’s a live fight. With the last one, it was sort of like it was a given really and this one I know I can’t slip up because the man’s up for it but that – and he’ll say the same – it only brings out the best in you because people can fall asleep when it’s all in their own way and I know I’m going to have to be alert for the whole 12 rounds.”
Noakes forged his reputation by . He showed that he can box to instructions and got twelve rounds under his belt to beat Mendy for the European title and he is preparing himself for another long night. Noakes believes that the bloody-minded Walsh has what it takes to hear the final bell.
“If I’m being brutally honest with you, I probably do because he ain’t got quit in him and he ain’t never been stopped and he’s been in there with a lot of good people so if I do, he’ll probably say same thing, ‘If you do, fair play to you.’”
John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79
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