London, UK – Undefeated Sam Noakes (14-0, 13) is looking to return to knockout ways when he defends his new EBU European Lightweight championship against mandatory challenger Gianluca Ceglia (21-4-1, 4) at London’s York Hall on September 6.

Noakes’ first defence of his European crown following his dominant victory to claim the championship against his mandatory EBU Challenger Ceglia. Noakes has quickly garnered a reputation as one of the most talented and thrilling young fighters in world boxing.

“This is another card where our elite young stable of talented fighters get the chance to shine at an iconic venue” said promoter Frank Warren. “These York Hall shows are a launchpad for our young boxers and we always make sure these development cards are topped by significant title action, this time featuring Sam Noakes and Masood Abdulah.”

“Sam continues to impress me in this competitive lightweight division, while Masood has a tremendous opportunity to capture the Commonwealth title. It’s going to be a special night of boxing, make sure to tune in.”

Noakes, who is trained by Alan Smith at the iBox Gym in Bromley, said: “I can’t wait to put on a big performance and add another KO win to my record. I have got a huge future in this game, but first and foremost is to show that I am the best lightweight in Europe – bar none.

“This is another headline show at York Hall which is becoming my home away from home. My fans love it there, the close atmosphere matched with my high intensity all action style always makes for a special night.”

Ceglia, 34 from Italy, is the EBU mandatory challenger for Noakes’ European championship. The Lightweight a veteran of 26 bouts fights for the European championship for the second time. In his last fight Ceglia beat Frank Urquiaga to win the EBU Silver Lightweight championship to become the mandatory challenger. 

Also in action at the York Hall will be Masood Abdulah (10-0, 7) the former Commonwealth Silver Featherweight Champion, who will face fellow undefeated fighter George Stewart (7-0, 1), the Celtic featherweight champion, for the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight championship, previously held by Nathaniel Collins.

The York Hall card also features an impressive lineup of rising stars including Sonny Liston Ali (8-0, 1), Charlie Hickford (2-0, 1), Christian Fetti (1-0), Iman Zamatkesh (1-0, 1), as well as the professional debuts of John Issacs, and Keano White.

Tickets for the show on Friday, 6 September are on sale now and available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

BRITISH LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION Sam Noakes will defend his four title belts at York Hall on Saturday April 20, live on TNT Sports.

Tickets for the show on Saturday, 20 April are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

To apply for Media Accreditation, please fill out this form. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 12 April and confirmation emails will be sent out that evening.

In co-headline action, the undefeated super lightweight Henry Turner (12-0, 4 KOs) will make a fourth defence of his WBC International Silver title against fellow unbeaten challenger Bradley Townsend (16-0, 2).

Liverpool firebrand Andrew Cain (10-1, 9), the former WBC International Silver champion at super bantamweight, makes his return from a serious hand injury in eight round action at bantamweight.

Last time out in February, Noakes (13-0, 13), from Maidstone,  added the British and WBO International titles to the WBC International Silver and Commonwealth honours already in his name with a brutal four-round destruction of the previously unbeaten Lewis Sylvester.

The knockout sequence of High Wycombe man Turner, 23, was halted back in November when he went up against the former Southern Area and English champion Billy Allington, although he prevailed comfortably on the scorecards. He now takes on an undefeated opponent in Witney’s Townsend, 28, for the first time in his professional career.

Cain, 27, had his reign of terror at bantamweight ended by Ionut Baluta a year ago in Telford. The KO-artist put the Romanian down twice in the first round only to suffer a fractured hand in the process and was ultimately subject to a highly-disputed loss on points. Extensive surgery to his hand followed that has kept him out of the ring for a prolonged period of time.

Also featuring on the card, explosive cruiserweight Aloys Jr (6-1, 6) will have his first fight over the eight-round distance and big-punching super welterweight Ben Fail (5-0, 4) will also fight over six, along with Crayford super welter Jack Olephant (1-0).

In four round action is Upminster lightweight Billy Adams (2-0), plus the professional debuts of outstanding amateur stars Joe Cooper from Sandy and Eoghan Lavin from Ballyhaunis in Ireland.

“This is another card where our elite young band of highly talented fighters get the chance to shine,” said promoter Frank Warren. “These shows are quite literally the making of our young stars and we always make sure these development cards are topped by significant title action, this time featuring Sam Noakes and Henry Turner.

“Sam continues to blaze his way through the lightweight division and he will get to make a first defence of the British title he was so happy to win late last year, while Henry is back in another defence of his WBC belt against an excellent challenger in Bradley Townsend, who gets his big chance.

“I cannot wait to see Andrew Cain back in the ring at bantamweight. I firmly believe he would be a major champion by now if it were not for the severe hand injury he sustained that affected him so much in Telford last year.

“Aloys Jr and Ben Fail will continue to thrill, I’m sure, while I am excited to launch the professional careers of elite amateur stars Joe Cooper and Eoghan Lavin, who I am delighted have chosen Queensberry to guide their careers.”

Tickets for the show on Saturday, 20 April are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Hamzah Sheeraz announced himself as a legitimate middleweight contender as he destroyed former world title challenger Liam Williams in the opening round of their 12-round fight at The Copper Box Arena in London.

In the opening seconds of the contest, Sheeraz dropped Williams with a left hook. Williams continued to get rocked and then ate a huge right uppercut that put him on the deck for a second time. Sheeraz continued to batter Williams until the corner that was run by former world title challenger Gary Lockett threw in the towel and the fight was over at 2:36

Sheeraz, 159.4 lbs of ilford, ENG is 19-0 with 15 knockouts. Williams, 159 lbs of Wales is 25-5-1.

Former two-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde stopped Marko Nikolic in round three of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round two, Yarde landed a right hand that put Nikolic on the canvas.. Then it was a left hook to the body that put Nikolic on a knee. In round three, Yarde sent Nikolic to the canvas again with a body shot and the fight was stopped at 1:15.

Yarde, 177.7 lbs of Milford, ENG is now 25-3 with 24 knockouts. Nikolic, 179 lbs of Belgrade, SRB is now 32-4.

Sam Noakes kept his perfect knockout record intact with a fourth round stoppage over Lewis Sylvester in a scheduled 12-round lightweight bout.

In round three, Noakes dropped Sylvester with a left hook to the body. Noakes was relentless in dropping him again with a right to the body. In round four, Noakes landed several hard rights to the head and another right to the body put Sylvester down again and the fight was stopped when the towel was thrown in at 2:10

Noakes, 134.3 lbs of Kent, ENG is 13-0 with 13 knockouts. Sylvester, 133.6 lbs of Hull, ENG is 13-1.

Masood Abdullah stopped Qais Ashfaq in round five of their 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round five, Abdullah dropped Ashfaq with an uppercut. Seconds later, Abdullah dropped Ashfaq with a right hook. With the end near, Abdullah went in and dropped Ashfaq for a tried time just as the corner was throwing in the towel at 2:02

Abdullah, 125.7 lbs of London is 10-0 with seven knockouts. Ashfaq, 134 lbs of Yorkshire is 12-3.

Umar Khan remained undefeated with a third-round stoppage over Maicol Velazco in a six-round featherweight bout.

Khan battered Velazco until the fight was stopped ay

Khan, 128 lbs of Elord, ENG is 9-0 with one knockout. Velazco, 129.2 lbs of Italy via Colombia is 10-15.

Billy Adams won a four-round decision over Engel Gomez in a lightweight bout.

Adams, 132 lbs of England won by a 40-36 score and is now 2-0. Gomez, 133 lbs of Slovakia via Nicaragua is 8-24-2.

6’7″ cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher stopped Alvaro Terrero in round three of their eight-round bout.

Fletcher badly bloodied the nose of Terrero and the fight was stopped at 1:20 of round three.

Fltecher, 202.5 lbs of Norfolk, ENG is 7-0 with six knockouts. Terrero, 204.13 lbs of Spain is 5-20-2.

SAM NOAKES WILL fight English champion Lewis Sylvester at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday 10 February in the chief support to the mighty middleweight clash between Hamzah Sheeraz and Liam Williams, live on TNT Sports.

The Commonwealth and WBC International Silver belts currently owned by the 12-0 (12 KOs) Noakes will be on the line against the undefeated 13-0 (4 KOs) man from Hull.

Two-time World title challenger Anthony Yarde (24-3, 23) will return to action over 10 rounds at light heavyweight ahead of major title challenges in 2024.

The recently crowned Commonwealth Silver featherweight champion Masood Abdulah (9-0, 6) will make a first defence of his belt against the 2016 Olympian Qais Ashfaq (12-2, 5).

Sylvester, 25, won the vacant English title when he defeated the previously unbeaten Adam Cope in Sheffield via a unanimous verdict last July, before making a blistering first defence against Jimmy First in October when he took just over two minutes to complete the job.

Noakes has been on the title trail since the end of 2021 when he stopped Shaun Cooper for his WBC honour, before adding the Commonwealth to his cabinet with a fourth-round stoppage of Calvin McCord in November 2022. The charismatic Maidstone man extended his knockout run to 12 in December when Carlos Perez was accounted for in the fourth round at York Hall.

Islington’s Abdulah defeated Marc Leach in October to win his maiden title as a professional and he goes up against Leeds man Ashfaq, who dropped a split decision in challenge for the British super featherweight title against Liam Dillon in July

Also featuring at the Copper Box will be the WBC International super lightweight champion Pierce O’Leary (13-0, 7) making a third defence of his belt. While light heavyweight Karol Itauma (10-1, 7) continues his journey over eight rounds.

Cruiserweights Tommy Fletcher (5-0, 4) and Aloys Jr (5-1, 5), as well as welterweight Khalid Ali (7-0, 3) and featherweight Umar Khan (8-0) will fight over six rounds, with 1-0 newcomers Sam King (middleweight), Billy Adams (lightweight) and Charlie Hickford (super featherweight) having their second four round encounters.

“We are in for a busy night at the Copper Box in our first show of the year on February 10,” said promoter Frank Warren. “The main event speaks for itself, and I believe Hamzah Sheeraz and Liam Williams will deliver a captivating spectacle.

“The time has come for Sam Noakes to stake his claim at the top of the domestic scene, and we should be in for a cracking fight when he goes up against the undefeated English champion Lewis Sylvester, who will view this as his gateway to more big nights on a TV platform.

“The undercard is stacked, and fans can look forward to Anthony Yarde getting back into business in a 10-rounder before he returns to major title action a little further down the line. Pierce O’Leary and Masood Abdulah can also stake their claim to be part of headline fights over the course of this year.

“Our top prospects are also on parade, and I am particularly looking forward to seeing the rivalry between our knockout pair of cruiserweights, Tommy Fletcher and Aloys Jr, develop as they seek to out-do each other before, one day, they get to do it for real.”

Tickets for Sheeraz vs Williams on 10 February 2024 at the Copper Box Arena are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

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Copper Box Arena, managed by GLL, a charitable social enterprise and worker-owned cooperative, operating under the community-brand, Better.

The EBU European Lightweight Championship 12 x 3 Minute Rounds
Gavin Gwynne 134.4lbs
Emiliano Marsili 134.3lbs

The WBC International Silver Lightweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Sam Noakes 134.6lbs
Carlos Perez 133.6lbs

The WBC International Featherweight Championship 10 x 2 Minute Rounds
Raven Chapman 125.1lbs
Lucie Sedlackova 125.2lbs

The WBO European Super-Bantamweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Brad Strand 121.1lbs
Joshua John 121.6lbs

8 x 3 Minute Rounds International Cruiserweight Contest
Oronzo Biradi 197lbs
Israel Duffus 200lbs 7oz

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Heavyweight Contest
Moses Itauma 242.5lbs
Michal Boloz 223lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Featherweight Contest
Royston Barney-Smith 132.9lbs
Maicol Velazco 132.3lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Featherweight Contest
Umar Khan 126.9lbs
Yin Caicedo 124.8lbs

6 x 3 Minute Rounds International Welterweight Contest
Sonny Liston Ali 150.8lbs
Fernando Mosquera 147lbs

4 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Welterweight Contest
Joel Kodua 151.3lbs
Dario Barosa To weigh-in Tomorrow

Zhielei Zhang won the WBO Interim Heavyweight title with a sixth round stoppage over previously undefeated Joe Joyce at The Copper Box Arena in London.

Zhang landed some heavy blows in rounds one and two. In round two, Zhang landed a hard straight left that buckled Joyce and bloodied his nose. In round three, the right eye of Joyce began to shut. By round five, the eye was shut. In round five, Zhang began to bleed from the nose. Zhang continued to land hard shots that worsened to the point that made the referee at 1:34 of round six.

Zhang, 278 lbs of China is 25-1-1 with 20 knockouts. Joyce, 256 lbs of London is 14-1.

Zhang said, “Today belongs to me. It belongs to everyone who showed up. It belongs to every Chinese person who showed up today.

“I’m 39 years old. But I’m disciplined. I train hard. The next step is for me to fight for a world title.”

Joyce said, “I’m just disappointed with my performance. The [left] hand kept hitting me, and I couldn’t get out of the way. So, respect to Zhilei Zhang. It was a good fight, but I think I could have done better.

“I haven’t fought a southpaw for so long. Credit to him because he’s a good fighter. I gave it my all, and I think I can do better. It’s just disappointing. I expected to win like I normally do.”

Mikaela Mayer moved up in weight and took a 10-round unanimous decision over very last minute replacement Lucy Wildheart to win the WBC Interim Lightweight Title.

In the final round, Wildheart was bleeding from her nose.

Mayer landed 296 of 592 punches. Wildheart was 131 of 462.

Mayer, 134.5 lbs of Colorado Springs, CO won by scores of 100-90, 98-92 and 98-91 and is now 18-1. Wildheart, 134 lbs of Brentoowd, ENG took the fight 24 hours ago after Christina Linatradou had a medical issue. Wildheart is 10-2

Mayer said, “She stepped in at the last minute, so that was really gutsy of her. It’s definitely a big fight for her to just jump in at 24 hours’ notice. But she was tough and durable. I see why she had the confidence to do that, so props to her.
 
“I like to fight on the inside, so once I knew that she couldn’t outbox me, I decided to take it to her a little bit and try to break her down to the body.
 
“I do believe that Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are supposed to go for their rematch, so assuming that still happens, I will challenge the winner of that. So, it’s definitely really exciting for me. This is where I belong. I belong in big fights. I belong in world title fights. I’m in my prime. I feel great, and I want the toughest challenges possible, and right now at 135, that’s Katie Taylor.”

Moses Itauma went the distance for the first time in his life won a six-round decision over Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko .

The score was60-5 for Itauma, 247 lbs of Chatham, ENG is 3-0. Dovbyschenko of Ukraine is 9-13-1.

Heavy-handed Sam Noakes remained completely perfect by stopping Karthik Shartish Kumar 12-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Noakes dropped Kumar with a flush right to the head, Noakes continued with hard shots, and another right made Kumar’s glove touch the canvas, and the fight was stopped at 1:17.

Noakes, 134 1/2 lbs of Kent, ENG is 11-0 with 11 knockouts. Kumar, 134 1/2 lbs of India is 10-1.

John Ryder captured the WBO Interim Super Middleweight Title via stoppage after round four when previously undefeated Zach Parker could not continue due to an injured right hand at The 02 Arena in London.

It was a close fight until Parker bowed out of the fight.

Ryder will not head the short list for a possible May fight with Canelo Alvarez and is now 32-3 with 18 knockouts. Parker is 22-1.

Hamzah Sheeraz stopped River Wilson-Bent in round two of their 12-round middleweight bout.

Sheeraz was dominant from the opening bell ny rocking him several times. At the end of round two, the pressure finally undid Wilson-Bent and a right hand put him down and the fight was stopped at 2:55.

Sheeraz, 159 lbs of London is 16-0 with 13 knockouts. Wilson-Bent, 159.7 lbs is 13-2-1.

“Zach started well, got behind the job well and was peppering me a bit there,” reacted Ryder afterwards. “I felt like the tide might be starting to turn and I was getting more on top, but these things happen in boxing. It is a bad injury for him and it feels like half a robbery victory for me.”

“Obviously I am absolutely gutted,” added Parker. “It was at the start of the round, I hit him with an uppercut and you can see from my hand that it is out now. He is obviously a good lad who will go on and do good things in boxing and I will come back stronger.

“I was warming into the fight and it was becoming a good fight. When the injury happened at the start of that last round I kept having to move because every time I jabbed him it was hurting and clicking.”

Noakes Stops McCord in 4

Sam Noakes stopped Calvin McCord in round four of a 12-round lightweight fight.

In round Noakes dropped McCord with a right to the body. Noakes dropped McCord again with a hard right hand. Noakes finished things when he sent McCord to a knee with another hard right to the body at 2:14.

Noakes, 1234.5 lbs of Kent, ENG is 10-o with 10 knockouts. McCord, 135 lbs of Scotland is 12-1.

McCann Stops Ham in 8

Dennis McCann stopped a gritty Joe Ham in round eight of their 12-round super bantamweight bout.

In round five, Ham began to bleed from his nose.

In round eight, McCann unleashed a series of flurries and the bout was stopped at 2:28.

McCann, 121.4 lbs of Kent, ENG is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Ham, 121.5 lbs of Glasgow, SCO is 17-4.

O’Leary Decisions Mungandjela

Pierce O’Leary won a 10-round unanimous decision over Emmanuel Mungandjela in a super lightweight bout.

In round one, O’Leary dropped Mungandjela with a perfect counter uppercut. At the end of round five, dropped Mungandjela with a right uppercut followed by a vicious left hook.

O’Leary, 139.5 lbs of Dublin, IRE won by scores of 99-90, 99-89 and 96-92 and is now 12-0. Mungandjela, 139.9 lbs of Namibia is 16-4-1.

Tommy Fletcher took out Jiri Krejci in the opening round of their four-round cruiserweight bout.

In the opening round, Fletcher landed a nasty left uppercut to the chin that put Krejci down and completely put at 2:!9. Krejci needed medical attention, but was able to leave the ring on his own power.

Fletcher, 201 lbs of Norfolk, ENG is 3-0 with three knockouts. Krejci, 197.8 lbs of CZE is 1-3-2.

SAM NOAKES IS back in search of a perfect 10 when he makes his return at the 02 Arena on November 26 after making his recovery from a broken thumb, live on BT Sport.

Thrill-a-minute lightweight Sam was due to fight back in July before a sparring injury sustained while working with Archie Sharp put him on the missing list.

Now he is set to fight for the Commonwealth title against the unbeaten Scot Calvin McCord on the undercard of the big Zach Parker-John Ryder clash for the WBO Interim world super middleweight title.

“Camp was going well and I was sparring Archie,” reflected Noakes, 25. “I think it was the seventh or eighth round, right at the end, and I switched through, misjudged the distance and hit him on top of the head. I thought ‘that hurt’, then I carried on, hit a few jabs out and it was still hurting.

“So I stopped and they took my hand out of the glove and my thumb was wedged underneath. I went to the hospital and, after the x-ray, she called me straight in. I thought ‘this ain’t good’ because normally you are just sat there if it is not urgent and they just leave you there.

“I had snapped it with a clean break. At least you know where you stand with a clean break, it is sweet now, but it was a pain in the ar*e at the time and I wasn’t very happy!

“So I’ve been out for eight months and I’m an old has-been now… All forgotten about.”

“I’ve fallen on my feet here though, having the Commonwealth title, so I am happy with that.”

Noakes resisted the temptation of becoming a couch potato during his absence and hit the road to keep in trim.

“As soon as I got the solid cast on I was running straight away. If I had sat about eating when I came back I would be a middleweight! So I kept ticking over and I was lucky to only have it on for about four weeks. When it came off I was pushing weights and I was happy just to be back in the gym.

Tickets for Zach Parker vs John Ryder for the WBO Interim Super-Middleweight Championship at The O2 are on sale now, available from axs.com.

Zach Parker vs John Ryder for the WBO Interim world super middleweight championship headlines a huge bill at the 02 Arena on November 26, live on BT Sport.

The bill also features Hamzah Sheeraz (16-0, 12) who will bid to add the Commonwealth middleweight title to his WBC Silver belt when he takes on the highly-rated River Wilson-Bent (13-1-1, 6).

Dennis McCann (13-0, 7) who faces Joe Ham (17-3, 6) for the vacant Commonwealth super-bantamweight belt, while lightweight Sam Noakes (9-0, 9) takes on the unbeaten Scot Calvin McCord (11-0, 2) in a defence of his WBC International Silver championship and for the vacant Commonwealth title.

Noake’s gym mate, Pierce O’Leary (10-0, 6), fights for the vacant WBC International super lightweight championship against the Namibian Emmanuelo Mungandjela (16-3-1, 7).

Thetford cruiserweight Tommy Fletcher (2-0, 2) and Upminster super lightweight Sonny Liston Ali (4-0) also appear on the card.

SAM NOAKES HAS vowed to shed the self-imposed shackles and return to his explosive, swashbuckling self when he returns to the ring at the OVO Arena, Wembley on March 19.

The lightweight force of nature stepped up the rounds and moved into the business of winning titles last time out in December at the Copper Box where he defeated Shaun Cooper in nine rounds with the WBC International Silver title at stake.

The stoppage win took him to 8-0 with all of his wins coming via KO, but this one lasted four rounds longer than his previous longest stay of five rounds in the ring. Going beyond five took him into uncharted territory.

“Yeah I had never been past six before that,” reflected Sam, who takes on Vincenzo Finiello in a first defence of his title at Wembley. “It was alright, I think I was more focused on the rounds than before because normally you would do a six then jump up to an eight and I went straight into a 10.

“So it was in my head but, obviously in this next one, I know I have got them in the bank. It stands me in good stead.”

Sam, 24, concedes that his focus was more on pacing himself than his customary freestyling that has so much caught the eye since he made his debut in September 2019.

“Er, yeah I would have said so. Obviously with the first time making championship weight as well, you don’t know how your body is going to react. I felt good, but mentally and physically is a completely different thing.

“You know what, it isn’t much difference to making 62.5kg, it is just another day of sh*t really and I made it relatively easy anyway. It is always nicer putting weight on than losing it though.

“The whole camp leading up felt a bit more meaningful with the title and that. It is mad to see how quickly I got there really, especially with the lockdown as well, so I am very happy with that.”

Turning a critical eye on himself, Noakes says his principal takeaway from the fight is not to stray from what has marked him out as one to watch.

“If I was being critical, I wasn’t my normal aggressive self, I would say. It was just the jump from six to 10 and not knowing how you will react. I didn’t want to go in all guns blazing and then get to six and think ‘I am a little bit tired here’.

“It was a good learning fight and exactly what it needed to be really.

“I would say I was a bit too cautious and I might have overthought it a little bit. I got through it in the end and I will learn from it. I will put on an explosive performance on this next show and put myself back in good stead.

“It will be the old me! It is nice to be able to do a bit of both, but you can’t change your identity and I’ve got to be what got me to being a pro in the first place.

“It is about going all out and, now I’ve got those rounds in the bank, I will just go back to that.

“You’ve got to be yourself and there is nobody better at being you than you!”

Tickets for an incredible night of Championship boxing at the OVO Arena are on sale now available at AXS.com. 

EUROPEAN WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION David Avanesyan returns to the ring on March 19 at the OVO Arena, Wembley with a defence of his title on a night of multiple championship clashes at the historic London venue. Avanesyan takes on the unbeaten Finn Oskari Metz, 15-0, in what will be a fifth defence of his EBU belt.

In four-round action, Khalid Ali (1-0, 1 KO) will look to double his win tally against Kris Pilkington (2-10-1). Finally, Frank Warren gets to unleash his latest young star onto the professional ranks, with two-time European championship gold medallist Royston Barney-Smith making his pro debut, having turned 18 in January.

Tickets for an incredible night of Championship boxing at the OVO Arena are on sale now available at AXS.com. 

THE TOWN OF Maidstone in Kent will see a significant decrease in population numbers on Saturday evening when young resident Sam Noakes gets to challenge for a first title in just his eighth fight as a pro.

The 24-year-old lightweight will compete for the WBC International Silver title against Shaun Cooper (11-2) at the Copper Box Arena in Stratford, live on BT Sport.

He will be far from alone in East London because he has personally sold over 450 tickets for the event headed up by the blockbuster rematch between Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde. The Maidstone contingent will be swelled even further by the considerable support attracted by fellow Kent folk Dennis McCann and Karol Itauma, who also feature on the card.

“The Maidstone Massive will be out in force,” said Noakes at an undercard media event staged at the old Peacock Gym in Canning Town. “I can’t wait to get in there and I’m very excited.”

Noakes admits that a title being on the line has raised the stakes and also upped his game during preparations at the Queensberry iBox Gym in Bromley.

“It’s different and you are more focused on it, you train that little bit harder and your focus is definitely better.

“What I do know is that I get a nice little green belt at the end of it.

“He (Cooper) is tough and I don’t think I will have to go looking for him, which is unusual for me, so it will be nice to be honest. It is going to be a brilliant fight,” he added, before stating his devout intention to keep his run of stoppage finishes moving towards 10 out of 10..

“If I can stop him in under eight, that would be nice. It would make it eight in eight for me and I want that 10. I’ve got a longer time to do it with 10 rounds.”

In other news, Noakes on Monday signed a new contract to extend his promotional agreement with Queensberry, as well as his management association with Francis Warren.

“I am very happy with the way my career has been dealt with so far,” he explained. “I’ve got a good connection with Francis and I am happy where I am. If it isn’t broken don’t fix it and we will keep doing what we’re doing.

“I have been told I will be back out again in February and that is all I know really. Tell me when and I will fight and train, that is all I do really, just keep it simple.

“It has all been sweet for me, seven KOs and getting a little title fight before the end of the year!”
 
 

In the bill topper Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur (19-0, 13 KOs) defends his Commonwealth and WBO International Light-Heavyweight title against Ilford’s Anthony Yarde (21-2, 20 KOs) in a rematch of last December’s controversial clash that he won on points.

 Ilford’s Hamzah Sheeraz (13-0, 9 KOs) puts his WBO European Super-Welterweight title on the line against Penge’s former British champion Bradley Skeete (29-3, 14 KOs).

In a third title fight the vacant WBC International Silver Lightweight crown is up for grabs when Maidstone puncher Sam Noakes (7-0, 7 KOs) meets Willenhall’s Shaun Cooper (11-2).

Exciting Super-Bantamweight prospect Dennis McCann (10-0, 6 KOs) is in eight round action.

Mill Hill Heavyweight George Fox (4-0) faces a tough eight rounder against Pole Kamil Sokolowki (10-23-2, 4 KOs).

Chatham Light-Heavyweight Karol Itauma (4-0, 2 KOs), Reading Super-Featherweight Charles Frankham (3-0, 1 KO) and Islington Super-Featherweight Masood Abdullah (2-0, 2 KOs) are in six rounders.

Two four rounders complete the bill and feature Ilford Super-Bantamweight Umar Khan (2-0) and Upminster’s Super-Welterweight debutant Sonny Liston Ali.

Tickets for the event can be purchased here

Upper Bowl Seat – £77
Lower Bowl Seat – £55

WRECKING machine Sam Noakes has targeted knocking out his first ten professional opponents.

Noakes (5-0, 5 KOs) is halfway there and the Lightweight is desperate to continue that impressive run at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday July 10, live on BT Sport.

The Maidstone banger who took just 110 seconds to finish off unbeaten Delmar Thomas in February said: “I don’t get in the ring thinking, ‘I am going to stop this guy,’ but at the back of my mind that is obviously what I want to do.

“I am hoping to get to ten fights with ten knockout wins. There is a still a long road ahead to reach ten out of ten, but I am confident I will do it.

“That is my first aim, and after that I won’t be bothered so much about going the distance.”

Noakes, 23, was a serious puncher as an amateur. He had 53 bouts, winning 47 with 26 of the victories coming via stoppage. He won the Senior ABA championships, Tri-Nations gold, two NABC titles and Gold in the Haringey Box Cup.

He added: “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I am not surprised all my wins have come inside the distance because I could punch as an amateur.

“I always felt with smaller gloves I would do more damage. The more rounds there are in a fight the more confident I will be of getting the stoppage.”

Trainer Alan Smith isn’t hurrying to push Noakes towards major titles yet, but on the running track the youngster is racing ahead of the rest.

“If the boxing doesn’t work out I think I will become a runner,” joked Noakes who is in training to run the Brighton Marathon in September and is aiming to finish under 2 hours 50 minutes.

“I don’t like to say this, but ask Dennis McCann and all the boys. They’re not catching me. They might in the ring, but not on the track.

“I have done a sprint triathlon and I’m getting ready for my first Marathon and want to get a qualifying time for Major marathons like London.

“When I finish with boxing I will do an Ironman, but that will be too much while I am boxing especially getting ready for the 112 mile bike ride.

“If I wasn’t boxing I would still be into fitness. I have been active since I was a young age, but I am addicted to fitness.

“If I sit about I feel guilty and lazy. I am always in the gym and the morning after every fight I go for a run along the coast at sunrise.”

The 9st 9lb division is stacked with prospects that also includes Queensberry stablemate Mark Chamberlain, another fierce puncher.

Noakes who turned professional in September 2019 says: “I put my trust in my trainers completely and I don’t have a choice in how quick I should be pushed.

“There are some really good fighters in my division and I don’t feel I would come unstuck, but many of them have years of experience, going the distance and doing the hard rounds.

“That is a big factor. It’s okay me thinking I have been knocking out blokes in three and four rounds, but when you get ten rounds deep and the fella is still coming it’s going to be a different story.

“I’d love to win the British title and although I am not thinking past it my goal is being a world champion.”

Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight champion Lyndon Arthur (18-0, 12 KOs) headlines the July 10th bill at the Royal Albert Hall. He makes the first defence of his WBO Inter-Continental title against Italian Davide Faraci (15-0, 7 KOs).

The Mancunian’s bitter rival Anthony Yarde 20-2, 19 KOs) who lost a split decision against Arthur faces unbeaten German Emin Atra (17-0, 12 KOs) in a non-title ten rounder.

Also on the bill WBO ranked number one Super-Middleweight Zach Parker (20-0, 14 KO’s) will defend his WBO International belt against Uzbek Sherzod Khusanov (22-2-1, 10 KOs).

WBO ranked number four Super-Featherweight, Archie Sharp (19-0, 9 KOs) meets Nicaragua’s Marcio Soza (21-6-2, 12 KOs) with the vacant WBO Global championship on the line.

Prodigious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann (9-0, 5 KOs) faces Tanzanian John Chuwa (20-4, 10 KOs).

Elsewhere on the card, 2016 Olympian Muhammad Ali (2-0) will have his third professional assignment against Lee Glover (11-4, 3 KOs), with Lightweight KO-artist Sam Noakes (5-0, 5 KOs) and Light-Heavyweight former Olympic Youth champion Karol Itauma (2-0, 1 KO) also featuring.

MAIDSTONE LIGHTWEIGHT SAM Noakes is to turn professional under the promotional banner of Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions and will make his debut at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday September 27.
 
The charismatic Noakes had 53 fights in the amateur code of the sport, winning 47 with 26 of the victories coming via stoppage. During this period Noakes won the Senior ABAs, Tri-Nations gold, two NABC title and gold in the Haringey Box Cup.
 
Now trained by Alan Smith at the iBox Gym in Bromley, Noakes insists he will look to maintain his reputation from the amateurs of rarely taking a backward step.
 
“I go flat out and it’s got to be done,” he explained. “I move a little and there is a bit of skill there, I suppose. It isn’t just head down and fluking wins. It works for me,” added the 22-year-old who will now launch his paid career under a Hall of Fame promoter at London’s premier boxing venue.
 
“I got the offer from Big Frank, took it up, and here I am!
 
“When I spoke with Francis (manager, Warren) he said he wanted Al Smith to train me and when we met we got on really well and haven’t looked back since. The connection with Francis came about when he contacted my amateur trainer and invited me to the Stevenage show before I went to the office to sign up.”
 
Promoter Frank Warren added on his new recruit: “Sam is going to be an exciting addition to the professional scene and I am sure boxing fans will enjoy seeing his career progress because there won’t be a dull moment when he is in the ring.
 
“He is in one the best places possible to learn his trade with Alan and I am looking forward to getting him started on our tremendous show at the Royal Albert Hall headlined by Daniel Dubois fighting for the Commonwealth title and Nicola Adams defending her world title.”

Daniel Dubois headlines the bill when he meets Ghana’s Ebenezer Tetteh for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight crown and there will be a world title clash involving WBO flyweight champion Nicola Adams, live on BT Sport.

The card will also feature WBO European super-featherweight champion Archie Sharp who makes his second title defence against Dublin’s Declan Geraghty.

Middleweight banger Denzel Bentley, heavyweight Jonathan Palata, lightweight Mohammad Bilal Ali and precocious bantamweight talent Dennis McCann are also in action.

Exciting prospects Lewis Edmondson, Eithan James and Sam Noakes all make their professional debuts.

Tickets for the September 27 bill at the Royal Albert Hall are available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.royalalberthall.com. Prices £40, £50, £75, £100, £150 Ringside