Sam Noakes didn’t extend his knockout streak but bossed proceedings from start-to-finish against esteemed former European lightweight champion Yvan Mendy in their York Hall main event to unify British, Commonwealth and European titles at 135lbs – the first to do so since Dave Charnley in 1961 – as manager Francis Warren hinted at big plans for the 26-year-old afterwards.
Noakes goes distance in valuable shutout victory
120-108, 120-108, 120-108: Sam Noakes bt. Yvan Mendy via unanimous decision, wins vacant EBU European title and improves to 14-0
- Noakes gets invaluable first 12-round experience under his belt, showing new wrinkles against a veteran he watched live in rematch against Olympic champion Luke Campbell at his first boxing show, six years ago
- Not just a puncher! Noakes’ trainer Al Smith: “His boxing ability is underestimated, he listened… didn’t think he would stop Yvan but Sam needed someone like that, he’s incredible to be around. Skye [Nicolson], Henry and Sam… all [their success] happening on a small farm in Bromley.”
- Noakes’ manager, Francis Warren: “That was disciplined, shown that he’s more than capable of boxing to orders when it matters most, could’ve gone out there all guns blazing in rounds 4-6, but showed his maturity and is ready for that next level. We’ll keep an eye on Berinchyk vs. Navarrete.”
- Planting the seed? Long-reigning WBO International lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk gets his maiden world title shot against three-division world titlist Emanuel Navarrete on May 18 in San Diego for vacant WBO strap and Ukrainian (18-0, 9 KOs) is under the Queensberry banner
SAM Noakes wanted to extend his 13-fight knockout run and went mightily close in the final round, but while he didn’t get the exclamation mark on a dominant display, showcased why his handlers regard him so highly. Others are now joining the train.
As expected, the Maidstone man began as he meant to go on – digging to the body often and early, believing it would pay dividends if they went long.
Yvan Mendy came forward a bit more in the second stanza but was being jabbed at distance and couldn’t unload his own attacks as he would’ve liked.
Fittingly then, the veteran landed a pair of right hooks when Noakes engaged in close, a timely warning for the 26-year-old – as his trainer Alan Smith warned him against leaning forward when punching as that was the place he was most susceptible to getting countered clean by a man whose wily tricks were on display.
Outworking the Frenchman with economical punch volume as time wore on, he boxed clever and made Mendy miss often when he did throw with subtle movements, bobbing and weaving, keeping his distance for large periods before pushing forward and picking holes in the high guard across from him.
Noakes was warned by referee Robert Verwijs for a low blow early in the sixth, Mendy starting to open up more and staying busier in his face as time wore on.
The round’s most noteworthy action came in the final seconds, Mendy partially blocked a right uppercut but you wouldn’t have known it on first viewing – such is Noakes’ power – he stumbled backwards and the crowd rose with anticipation.
Into the seventh they went, Smith urging his charge not to get excited by one shot, clearly still chipping away and growing in confidence too as Mendy had recovered.
Former two-division world champion-turned-analyst Carl Frampton declared it a fantastic performance through seven rounds, having seen the home hopeful showcase a variety of shots and elusiveness in stages – two things many punchers often neglect against opposition offering them stern resistance.
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Mendy’s back leg buckled early in the eighth after absorbing a counter one-two combo, Noakes didn’t get overexcited so dug body shots and hooks while staying patient in the fire as rounds nine and ten flew without fuss, entering new territory.
“Left hand up,” was the constant cry from his corner, ensuring he didn’t get complacent nor absorb sloppy shots in the pocket and Noakes heeded the advice.
“I knew he was gonna be tough, thought I might just get him… overexcited at the end there and he shelled up but is a veteran of the game. It’s mad to be mixing it with him and winning every round, I’m happy to be here,” Noakes said honestly in his post-fight broadcast, job well done and another box ticked.
It’ll be interesting to see where he ranks with the sanctioning bodies after this career-best win, given he was #10 with the WBO and #15 in the WBC’s latest rankings.
Portsmouth’s unbeaten lightweight contender Mark Chamberlain (#9 WBC, #13 WBA, IBF, #14 WBO) returns on the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk undercard next month and while Queensberry have naturally kept the pair on separate paths in the past, Frank Warren might just get his wish at a title-eliminator duel by year’s end.
Results elsewhere in eight-fight York Hall slate
Cameroon was the buzzword for a proud Aloys ‘Junior’ Youmbi, en route to a composed and calculated fourth-round knockout win over overmatched opponent Pablo Oscar Natalio Farias as the Ben Davison-trained cruiserweight got more rounds under his belt in the evening’s co-main event on his second appearance in 70 days.
Tougher tests await him, that much he knows, and it’ll be interesting to see how the matchmakers manoevure him going forward given the 21-year-old’s stock continues to progressively increase – strong support from his homeland only reiterates that.
An in-house duel against Tommy Fletcher (7-0, 6 KOs) is always a possibility later down the line once both get more in-ring seasoning and while he’s not yet challenging for titles, it won’t be long before critics expect him to make the step-up.
It was a successful night for the iBox Gym as Noakes’ stablemate Henry Turner improved to 13-0 with a fifth-round stoppage win over short-notice opponent Maykol Mendoza to make the fourth defence of his WBC International Silver title at 140lbs.
Afterwards, the 23-year-old hinted that a shot at British honours – currently held by Dalton Smith – isn’t too far away after logging a fourth stoppage in his last five bouts.
13 months after having his 11-0 unbeaten record ended in Telford after a firefight over ten rounds with Ionut Baluta, super-bantamweight contender Andrew Cain returned to winning ways with a fourth-round knockout win over 29-fight veteran Darwing Martinez as the Liverpudlian’s comeback trail began in familiar fashion.
There was an unwelcome surprise for Jack Oliphant, who was stopped in the fourth round of his six-round middleweight contest against 36-year-old Frenchman Remi Scholer just two months after a successful pro debut on Matchroom’s Indigo card.
Elsewhere on the undercard, there were 40-36 points victories over four rounds for super-featherweight talent Billy Adams (vs. Mark Butler) and middleweight debutant Eoghan Lavin (vs. Vasif Mamedov), while Luton’s 160lb prospect Sam King was held to a 38-38 draw with Artjom Spatar over the same distance on his third pro outing.
Picture source: Queensberry, quotes via TNT broadcast
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