Negotiations Ordered: Noakes vs. Mason for the WBO Lightweight Title
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has ordered the start of negotiations for Sam Noakes and Abdullah Mason to face each other for the lightweight title. This decision comes after Keyshawn Davis was stripped of the belt.
Last Friday, Davis exceeded the weight limit for his title defense against Edwin De Los Santos. Due to this, Davis was stripped of the title and Saturday’s fight was canceled. Mason, 21, moved up to the main event and managed to stop Jeremia Nakathila in the fifth round. Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) currently holds the second position in the WBO rankings.
Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs), 27 years old, is ranked number one in the WBO lightweight rankings. His last fight was in May, where he secured a knockout victory in the third round against Patrik Balaz.
Mason is under the promotion of Top Rank Promotions, while Noakes is promoted by Queensberry Promotions. Both parties have a 20-day deadline to reach an agreement for the fight.
De Los Santos would have had the opportunity to win the lightweight title if he had decided to fight Davis. However, due to the weight difference – Davis weighed 139.3 pounds, 4.3 pounds over the 135-pound limit – De Los Santos chose not to participate and, as the WBO’s number 14 contender, is not entitled to a title shot.
