When then-WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis missed weight by more than four pounds in June, the belt became vacant and the door was opened to another pair of the division’s contenders to get their chance.

While Abdullah Mason was being hailed as a potential star of the division, over in England, a man called Sam Noakes had been stealthily plotting his own path towards a world title opportunity.

The popular Maidstone puncher started his career by surging to 13-0 with all of his wins coming inside the distance. He had been steadily climbing the ranks but, when he claimed the WBO international title in the last victory of that knockout streak, it was clear which path he was going to take.

Another four wins have followed, with two of them coming by way of knockout, which meant he was perfectly positioned once Davis missed weight and the WBO title became vacant. Now, for the fourth time in his career, Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) finds himself up against an undefeated fighter only this time there is a world title on the line. The pair will clash on "The Ring IV: Night of the Champions" this weekend at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

All four of those opponents were put to the sword in four rounds or less but he is a clear underdog this time around. Can he upset the odds and become the first man from Maidstone, Kent to win a world title?

Last fight: In what was his only outing of 2025 so far, Noakes secured the 17th win of his career when he stopped Czech Republic’s Patrik Balaz in the third of their scheduled eight rounder. Noakes dropped the 26-year-old inside the first 35 seconds of the fight and the visitor did well to hold on until he took a knee to end the fight in the third round due to a wrist injury.

Odds: Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers are all in agreement that Noakes is the underdog, to the tune of around 3/1 (+300). Some have him as wide as 10/3 (+333) and others slightly closer at 5/2 (+250).

How does Noakes win? When he wants to be, Noakes, The Ring's No. 8-ranked fighter at lightweight, is a relentless pressure fighter but he has shown throughout his career that it is not mindless forward motion. In his fight against Yvan Mendy, the experienced former European champion, Noakes showed that he knows when to go through the gears and when to stick to his boxing.

Any attempt to simply overwhelm Mason would likely lead to him providing openings for the Ohioan to exploit. Instead, Noakes will look to stay with Mason and then jump on him if he is given half a chance. Noakes is one of the most ferocious finishers in British boxing and will not hesitate to pounce if he happens to wobble Mason.

Let’s not forget, the 21-year-old is largely untested too and was dropped twice by the unheralded Yohan Vasquez in 2024. Noakes will fancy his chances of fashioning himself an opportunity at some point over the course of their 12 rounds and it will be up to him to take it. Noakes’ manager Francis Warren likens his fighter to the ‘expanding foam’ used for insulation given the way he pours forward, surrounds and overwhelms his opponents once he gets them going. Not many would pick him to win this on points, so it is a question of the kid from Cleveland surviving the foam from Maidstone.

What does it mean if he wins? Of course this is a significant fight in the context of the division and in Noakes career, but if he beats Mason and becomes WBO lightweight champion the door to some of the biggest names in boxing will suddenly be smashed open. It would also mean that Noakes would be the architect of one of the biggest world title upsets of 2025.

Few outside of British boxing know much about the 28-year-old, who has been under-rated until now, but that will change should he upset Mason, a man who sits at No. 9 on The Ring's 135-pound list and has been tipped as a future superstar of the sport. With victory, as WBO champion, Noakes could expect to set up unifications with the likes of Shakur Stevenson, a man he sparred at the start of the year.

What they’re saying: “I’m the B-side, mate, without a doubt. But listen, that really doesn’t bother me at all, if anything it just motivates me more really.

“I'm not that much of a diva that I want to be the A-side and part of me doesn’t mind being left alone. Let them make the fuss of him, it's alright, I'll be fine doing my own thing, working away quietly on what I need to do.

“If you’re made the underdog, that’s only based on what someone else is thinking isn’t it? I’ll let them think what I think and then I’ll change their opinion come November 22nd, don’t worry about that.” Sam Noakes talking to The Ring.

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