In an action-packed showdown in Saudi Arabia, 21-year-old Abdullah Mason established himself as the youngest current boxing world champion, overcoming Sam Noakes by unanimous decision and claiming the vacant WBO lightweight title on Saturday.
Mason (20-0, 17 KOs), a native of Cleveland, took his English opponent past six rounds for the first time in his career, securing the victory with scores of 117-111, 115-113, and 115-113.
Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs), from Maidstone, England, presented significant challenges to Mason in an entertaining bout that ultimately favored the American boxer.
Noakes, 28, started aggressively with hooks in the first round, but the second went to Mason, who established his jab. In the third round, Mason hit Noakes with a quick combination and a left uppercut.
Noakes also suffered a cut above his left eye due to a clash of heads in the third round, but had a better fourth round, connecting with a good right hand.
Noakes’ best punch, a right hand, came in the fifth round, while Mason continued to land left uppercuts.A Noakes was pleased that Mason opted for the exchange of blows in rounds 4 and 5, but the American resumed his jab in the sixth, regaining control of the fight. Noakes responded with a great seventh round and hurt Mason with a body shot before connecting some more hooks later on.
Mason, who was recently ranked in the Top 25 Under 25 in boxing, pressured Noakes in the eighth round and targeted the body in the tenth. Later in the tenth, Noakes was in serious trouble and was wobbled by a left hook, before both boxers connected with significant blows in an intense fight in the eleventh round.
Both pugilists faced off in the final round of a brilliant fight that propels Mason towards possible big fights against Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis, Gervonta Davis, and Floyd Schofield.
