Sam Noakes vs Ryan Walsh Predictions: Noakes aims to shatter the glass ceiling

Sam Noakes takes on Ryan Walsh this Saturday, December 7 at Wembley Arena. The British and European lightweight titles will be on the line as part of this ‘Magnificent 7’ card, headlined by Brad Pauls vs Denzel Bentley. TNT Sports will broadcast the event live.

Here are my Noakes vs Walsh predictions ahead of this tasty tussle.

Noakes is riding the quest of a wave. The 15-0 Kent man is ranked by three of the four world bodies, is coming off two of his finest career wins and is bringing the British and European belts with him to Wembley. The 27-year-old knockout puncher is looking every inch the emerging superstar.

Walsh is a fighter at the other end of the spectrum. Over a decade older at 38, the first flush of youth is behind him. The Cromer campaigner has boxed a veritable who’s-who of domestic boxers between featherweight and lightweight. Walsh is also coming off an outstanding win, putting him right back into the mix at a stage where many were writing him off.

The prospect vs the veteran is a classic boxing dynamic. Two men at different stages of their development who each desperately need a victory to stay on track. It is an intoxicating mixture and one that should make for a thrilling fight on Saturday.

Walsh is a former British champion down at featherweight. He has also challenged for the Commonwealth and European versions. His record includes victories over the likes of Reece Bellotti and James Tennyson, a draw with Isaac Lowe and defeats to Lee Selby, Jazza Dickens and Maxi Hughes. If they were worth fighting at the lower weights, chances are Walsh has fought them.

That take-on-all-comers spirit served him well last time. Fighting the resurgent Reece Mould looked tricky on paper. It looked for all likelihood as if a close decision on the cards would decide it either way. But Walsh blasted his man out in a single round. Despite his advancing years, the Norfolk man proved he is still a dangerous opponent.

Noakes will need to be wary of that. With two tiles and a triplicate of world rankings at stake, he is arguably the fighter with the most to lose. 15-0 with 14 knockouts, he is on the very cusp on the world stage. Stumble now and those chances evaporate. 

For Walsh, this is business as usual. He is used to fighting men-on-the-rise who are eyeing bigger things. Some, like Bellotti, Tennyson or ex-European boss Dennis Ceylan, have fallen foul of overlooking him. But even those who have beaten him have often had to go through the grinder to do it.

Walsh has never been stopped, despite his electric level of competition. That is something that Noakes probably needs at this stage of his career. 12 rounds against an experienced foe who will not wilt and who has come to win, rather than survive.

Noakes vs Walsh Fight Odds

Noakes is 1/16 to get this done, a reflection of just how high his ceiling appears to be. Walsh is 7/1, not a bad price for a fighter you can never fully write off. A draw is on the market at 16/1, a result that has actually occurred twice in Walsh’s career.

Noakes vs Walsh Full Card

Brad Pauls vs. Denzel Bentley

Sam Noakes vs. Ryan Walsh

Solomon Dacres vs. David Adeleye

Lawrence Okolie vs. Hussein Muhamed

Aloys Youmbi vs. Lewis Oakford

Sean Noakes vs. Mathew Rennie

Pierce O'Leary vs. TBA

Royston Barney-Smith vs. Andres Navarrete

Billy Adams vs. Jonatas Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira

George Crotty vs. Dylan Courtney

Noakes vs Walsh Prediction

I am going to play this one with a straight bat. I think Noakes has more in his locker than Walsh does at this point in their professional lives. But I don’t think even the considerable power of the champion will be enough to stop the unstoppable Walsh.

Instead, I think Noakes will take this on points, which you can back at 2/1.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.