Sam Noakes will return to the ring at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on May 3, marking his first appearance since a competitive defeat to Abdullah Mason late last year. The Kent lightweight is scheduled to box on a Top Tier promotional card that will stream on DAZNalthough an opponent has not yet been announced.
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The bout will be Noakes’ first outing since his no-decision loss to Mason on November 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Their fight, contested for the vacant WBO lightweight title, turned into an aggressive contest that turned out to be much closer than many expected beforehand. Mason secured the victory with scores of 115-113, 117-111 and 115-113.
Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) earned respect during the fight for the way he handled exchanges with Mason. The Ohio native entered with a reputation as a heavy puncher who could overwhelm opponents when trading up close, but Noakes repeatedly held his own during the early and middle rounds. At various points, Mason appeared uncomfortable trading power shots and eventually began to adjust his approach.
During the second half of the fight, Mason relied more on movement and frequent holds when exchanges intensified. The adjustment helped him maintain control of the fight on the scorecards, but it also reflected how competitive the earlier bouts had become.
One of the biggest surprises of the fight was how effectively Noakes matched Mason in those exchanges. The British competitor was considered the fighter more likely to struggle in a prolonged battle, but he repeatedly stood his ground and forced Mason to change tactics.
Noakes (28) remains well positioned in the division despite the defeat. He is currently #4 by the WBO, #5 by the WBC, and #11 by the WBA. Earlier victories over experienced opponents such as Ryan Walsh and former European champion Yvan Mendy helped establish his position among the lightweight contenders.
The May 3 card will be promoted and streamed by Johnny Clarke’s Top Tier on DAZN. The opponent for Noakes’ return is expected to be announced closer to the event date as he begins the next phase of his campaign in the lightweight division.
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Last updated on 2026/03/14 at 13:00
