Two standout performances over the weekend saw two young boxers take a step to world title challenge and potential stellar careers. The achievements both sides of the Atlantic were so different in so many ways.
British and Commonwealth lightweight champion Sam Noakes (14-0, 13 KO’s) from Maidstone, England continued his march towards world honours with an emphatic points victory against experienced Yvan Mendy. In doing so, also adding the European 9st, 9lbs (135 lbs) title to his expanding resume’.
Meanwhile in Brooklyn, New York City, on a much larger attended and profile card, junior-welterweight Ryan Garcia (26-1, 20 KO’s) dominated previously undefeated and two-weight world champion Devin Haney (31-1, 15 KO’s) to go pole position to challenge for the current sanction-body fractured (10st/140lbs) title.
Noakes at age 26 and Garcia at 25 are the potential futures of these two divisions on a world level, and may even meet further down the line.
One fight was a systematic points accumulation and victory, the other an assault and bashing up from the opening round. Ironically both went the distance.
Noakes, a technically sound and two-time British amateur champion, boasted a 100% KO professional record coming into Saturday’s fight in the iconic York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. Although he was forced to go the distance due to the 38 year old Mendy’s undoubted championship quality (being a two-time European champion) and, his resilience.
Noakes won convincingly and guided by a strong management team and promoted by Queensberry he looked the ‘real deal’. Post fight he honestly admitted he’d been extended (going 12 rounds for the first time) and against a good experienced operator, he went onto explain he needed a long rest. This was for Noakes a fight that may have shown us more than his thirteen to date, even though he didn’t get the KO he strove for. The contest ended 120-108 on all three cards.
Garcia on the other hand dropped Haney (31-1, 15 KO’s) three times en-route to busting up the previously undisputed lightweight champion and, still current WBC junior-welterweight champion – work that out ?
The fact that Garcia was indisciplined enough to be 3lbs over the divisional limit beforehand meant that the WBC title was not up for grabs. The fight though went ahead and Garcia was outstanding; launching an all out assault from the opening round.
Although the fight ended as a majority decision – 114-110, 115-109 and 112-112, Garcia enhanced his reputation as a hard handed left hooker with undoubted ability and charisma.
His victory was impressive to the extreme and after losing by KO to mutiple ‘world’ champion Gervonta Davis last year in his first and only defeat to date, the world is now again his oyster. The Los Angelean’s well publicised mental challenges and irrational behaviour online has drawn widespread criticism and concerned comment. But, when it comes down to it the man can fight ! He showed that on Saturday night and his blessed looks could lead to his claim of being “the face of boxing” no longer being hyperbole.
Noakes meanwhile, quietly goes about his business and capturing the European title completed what is the old, now non too-familiar way of working your way up to a world crown by winning all that is up for grabs along the way.
In an era of get rich quick, and likes online, this is a refreshing reminder of bygone times. The Maidstone man may reach the same heights though substance alone, and his fan appeal, albeit currently at a lower level, may even surpass that of the impressive Garcia in the end. His quality appears good enough to point to that or at least match this in ring accomplishment.
The journey and riches on offer will, for both, be fun along the way !
The Undisputed 