Gutsy Briton Noakes Loses In Epic World-title Fight

Briton Sam Noakes put successful a gutsy capacity but fell short successful his bid to go lightweight world champion, losing connected points to Abdullah Mason for nan vacant WBO title successful Saudi Arabia.

In a thrilling and adjacent title betwixt 2 unbeaten stars, Noakes, 28, was hampered by a bloodied near oculus aft a conflict of heads successful nan 3rd information but kept coming forward, landing thudding punches connected nan inside.

It was nan eye-catching uppercuts and slick long-range boxing from 21-year-old southpaw Mason, however, that made nan difference, arsenic he upped nan tempo successful nan 2nd half.

Mason rocked Noakes successful nan 10th, but nan Maidstone combatant clung connected and fought backmost valiantly until nan last bell.

With scores of 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, American Mason claims his 20th pro triumph and becomes nan youngest reigning antheral world champion.

Noakes had hoped to headdress his singular emergence from supermarket jobs, roofing, and railway activity to world champion.

He suffers nan first conclusion of his profession aft 17 consecutive wins, including 15 stoppages, but successful a fight-of-the-year contender, he proved he belongs astatine nan apical level and will person earned himself a fanbase astir nan world.

A grinning Noakes made a relaxed ringwalk to a astonishing prime - nan soaring strains of Luciano Pavarotti's 'Nessun dorma'.

Mason looked arsenic confident. The Ohio fighter, a 65-15 amateur standout, has been wide hailed arsenic 1 of boxing's early stars.

He opened pinch a slick southpaw jab, but nan compact Noakes, keeping a precocious guard, closed nan region well.

Noakes tried to bully Mason and activity nan assemblage but was staggered by a well-timed near successful nan third.

After nan accidental caput clash, a expert cleared him to continue. Promoter Frank Warren, who called Noakes 1 of Britain's astir breathtaking fighters, grew animated, urging him on.

Mason began to move freely and showed his superior manus speed, but a stubborn Noakes landed a dense overhand correct successful nan fourth.

The erstwhile British, Commonwealth, and European champion had softly built momentum complete nan years pinch small fanfare, and was good successful nan conflict by nan halfway stage.

A near hook to nan assemblage slowed Mason successful nan seventh, though he responded pinch combinations arsenic nan title ebbed and flow.

But Mason, who had ne'er been past six rounds before, began to asseverate his power and landed a stinging uppercut successful nan eighth - a changeable that many times troubled Noakes passim nan fight.

Noakes was really troubled successful nan 10th but someway stayed connected his feet, continuing to conflict and onshore assemblage shots successful nan 11th.

There were immoderate adjacent rounds, and some men gave it their all, but Mason deservedly edged nan decision.

Speaking to BBC Sport past September, Noakes said he wanted a world-title triumph to unfold "like a Rocky film": being dropped, rising from nan canvas pinch blackened eyes, and uncovering a measurement to triumph.

He whitethorn not person sewage nan victory, but he played retired his ain Rocky-style book successful nan ring.

Perhaps he will do amended successful nan sequel; aft specified a terrific title pinch 2 styles that meshed, a rematch is warranted.