Noakes vs Mason Predictions: Lightweight history beckons for ‘Kent Golovkin’

Kent’s Sam Noakes gets the chance of a lifetime this Saturday, November 22 when he takes on Abdullah Mason for the vacant WBO lightweight championship. The bout takes place at Ring IV: Night of Champions at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. The card is headlined by Anthony Yarde’s WBC title challenge against champion David Benavidez. DAZN pay-per-view will screen the event live.

Read on for my Noakes vs Mason predictions.

Noakes vs Mason Odds

Noakes is the underdog at 11/4 while Mason comes in at 3/10. The draw is priced at 18/1.

Noakes vs Mason Fight Preview

Noakes is aiming to make history on Saturday night as he looks to become the first British fighter to hold a lightweight title in over eight years. Manchester’s Terry Flanagan relinquished this very WBO belt in 2017 to move up to super lightweight and no British fighter has claimed an 135lb strap since.

These shores were spoiled for choice at the time. Or more accurately, Manchester was. Anthony Crolla held the WBA lightweight title between 2015 and 2016 while Flanagan, another Manc, relinquished his the following year. It is a great shame that the bout, between United-mad Crolla and City-supporting Flanagan no less, never took place. You could have sold the Manchester Arena out six times over.

But enough about paths not walked. Though it does say a lot for Britain’s success on the lightweight scene that Noakes was still two years away from his pro debut the last time this country provided a world champion at the weight.

The challenge that awaits Noakes could not be more fearsome. Mason is the name on the lips of many American fight fans and figures. The big-punching 21-year-old is already 19-0 with 17 knockouts. Mason won multiple national titles as an amateur and expectations were high when he turned over.

Despite the hype, Mason has been moved in a measured manner. As measured as can be when a fighter is contesting a world title in the same year he can buy his first legal drink. But Mason’s professional education saw him ascend through four, six and eight-round level before landing at 10 rounds for his last two fights. 

Not that Abdullah needed 10 rounds to see off his last two opponents. Mexican gatekeeper Carlos Ornelas was dispatched in six sessions. Former WBO interim title challenger Jeremia Nakathila was finished in five. In his final eight-rounder, Mason knocked out well-travelled Manuel Jaimes in four rounds. This kid does not hang about.

But Noakes packs a whack too. Fifteen of his 17 wins have ended in knockouts against zero defeats. This includes stoppage victories in title fights with Gianluca Ceglia, Lewis Sylvester and Karthik Kumar. Noakes amassed the classic British, Commonwealth and European title trio before launching this assault on a world title. His two decision victories were the best of the bunch name-wise. Unanimous decisions over Yvan Mendy and Ryan Walsh showed the level this 27-year-old can reach.

Mason is a notch above those men, but then Noakes is superior to anyone the American has beaten so far too. This is a battle of two prospects looking to shake that tag. Unbeaten, young knockout punchers looking to make a statement. To make history. On the Night of Champions, a worthy new WBO one will be crowned at lightweight.

Noakes vs Mason Full Card

David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde

Sam Noakes vs Abdullah Mason

Jesse Rodriguez vs Fernando Martinez

Brian Norman Jr vs Devin Haney

Vito Mielnicki Jr vs Samuel Nmomah

Mohammed Alakel vs Jiaming Li

Julio Porras Ruiz vs Pius Mpenda

Sultan Almohammed vs Umesh Chavan

Noakes vs Mason Prediction

Noakes is your classic boxer-puncher. Compact, comfortable on the front or back-foot, spiteful. Equally adept at victory via accumulation or detonated destruction. Some might worry that he has never stopped a top level foe. But his two decision wins came against Mendy and Walsh, a hard-headed pair who have each never been stopped.

Mason is a scintillating southpaw with a decapitating spring. The youngster is taut and coiled until he senses an opportunity to strike. The right jab is often more of a threat. A feint. The gust before the hurricane of a straight right starts all the trouble.

This one comes down to who falls first for me. I think Mason’s work is more vicious and Noakes cannot afford to get comfortable. That high guard can only catch so much. If Mason really unloads, it will be lights out. Don’t take your eyes off this one. I’m having Abdullah Mason by knockout at 11/10.

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