Mason faces firestorm as Noakes hunts KO declaration in Riyadh

Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) says he might be able to a “highlight roll” knockout in his fight against Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) this Saturday, November 22, at the Ring IV event at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. The event will be shown live on DAZN PPV.

Noakes smells a KO

The big hitting Noakes is already predicting that Mason will not last six rounds against him. With his toughness and strength, you can’t ignore what Noakes is saying. He’s a big puncher, and he’s built for war.

Mason’s ken question

Noakes faces 21-year-old Cleveland, Ohio native Mason for the vacant WBO lightweight crown in what many boxing fans see as a 50-50 fight. Abdullah has already shown a weakness in the chin department and was dropped twice by lower-tier fighter Yohan Vasquez on November 8, 2024.

Floyd Schofield Sr. said that his son, lightweight contender Floyd ‘Kid Austin’ Schofield Jr., destroyed Mason in a sparring session. All these point to a situation where Abdullah is heading for disaster on Saturday. It’s a risky fight for Mason to face a big puncher like Noakes so early in just his fourth year as a pro.

WBO title on the line

“It’s a big opportunity. We’re both in the same position,” Sam Noakes said DAZN Boxing about his fight against Abdullah Mason on Saturday in Riyadh. “I never thought the (WBO lightweight) title was vacant. I always imagined challenging for another champion, but I think it’s a brilliant fight.

Capturing the vacant WBO lightweight title would open the door for Noakes to fight some of the big names at 135, such as Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis or Shakur Stevenson. There will also be potential fights at 140 against Teofimo Lopez or at 147 against Ryan Garcia or Shakur Stevenson.

Noakes’ recent victories

• Patrik Balazs
• Ryan Walsh
• Gianluca Ceglia
• Yvan Mendy

“Both of us have good records. Both of us come to fight. So, I’m looking forward to it,” Noakes said of his matchup against Mason. “Maybe a little bit. I think it’s more just work rate, just breaking them down,” Noakes said when asked if he considered himself a puncher.

We don’t know how good Mason and Noakes are because neither of them have faced opposition at the highest level yet. They have good records, but the wins have come against non-contenders. Saturday will be the first time in their careers that they face a solid opponent.

“I don’t have many highlight roles, but maybe I’ll get one at the end of the year (against Mason), maybe,” Noakes said.