Gutsy Briton Noakes loses in epic world-title fight

In his quest to win the vacant WBO title in Saudi Arabia, British boxer Sam Noakes put on a strong performance but fell short. He was defeated by Abdullah Mason in points.

Noakes, 28, was hurt by a bloody left eye after a head-to-head collision in the third round of a thrilling and close encounter between two unbeaten stars, but he continued to advance and landed thudding punches on the inside.

However, as he upped the tempo in the second half, it was the eye-catching uppercuts and slick long-range boxing from southpaw Mason, age 21, that made the difference.

In the tenth minute, Mason rocked Noakes, but the Maidstone fighter persisted until the final bell.

American Mason becomes the youngest reigning male world champion with scores of 117-111, 115-113, and 115-113.

Noakes hoped to bring his remarkable rise from a career in roofing, railroad, and supermarket jobs to world champion status.

A soaring strains of Luciano Pavarotti’s “Nessun dorma” were the unexpected choice for a grinning Noakes to make in a relaxed ringwalk.

In Riyadh, Mason appeared equally confident. The 65-15 amateur standout from Ohio has been widely regarded as one of boxing’s future stars.

The compact Noakes, keeping a high guard, successfully closed the gap after he opened with a slick southpaw jab.

Noakes attempted to intimidate Mason and work the body, but a clever left in the third quarter stifled him.

A doctor gave him a head restraint after the unintended headprawn. Noakes became enthralling and urged him on as promoter Frank Warren became more animated and became known for calling him one of Britain’s most exciting fighters.

A stubborn Noakes landed a heavy overhand right in the fourth, but Mason started moving freely and showing his superior hand speed.

Mason struggled in the seventh inning despite a left hook to the body that slowed him as the contest drew nearer and farther along.

However, in the eighth round, Mason, who had never previously lost more than six matches, began to assert his dominance and landed a stinging uppercut, which Noakes was repeatedly irritated by throughout the fight.

Noakes suffered severe injuries in the tenth grade when Mason connected the pair’s left-hands to one another before sunk an uppercut into the stunned Noakes’ body. Noakes continued to fight and landed his own body shots in the eleventh, but somehow he stayed on his feet.

Both men put in some bravery, but Mason deservedly won the favor.

Noakes stated in a statement to BBC Sport last September that he wanted a world title win to “move along like a Rocky movie,” where he was dropped, raised from the canvas, with blackened eyes, and eventually triumphed.

He may not have won, but he did so while writing his own Rocky-style script.