Tonight (Saturday), British lightweight Sam Noakes (7-0) will battle Shaun Cooper (11-2) at the Copper Box Arena in Stratford, live on BT Sport. He will have huge support on hand in East London because he has personally sold over 450 tickets. The main event is a rematch between light heavyweights Lyndon Arthur and Anthony Yarde. Two other boxers from the area around Noakes' hometown of Maidstone-- Dennis McCann and Karol Itauma-- who also feature on the card.
“The Maidstone Massive will be out in force,” said Noakes at an undercard media event staged at the old Peacock Gym in Canning Town. “I can’t wait to get in there and I’m very excited.”
Noakes admits that a title being on the line has raised the stakes and also upped his game during preparations at the Queensberry iBox Gym in Bromley. “It’s different and you are more focused on it, you train that little bit harder and your focus is definitely better. What I do know is that I get a nice little [regional title] belt at the end of it. He (Cooper) is tough and I don’t think I will have to go looking for him, which is unusual for me, so it will be nice to be honest. It is going to be a brilliant fight,” he added, before stating his devout intention to keep his run of stoppage finishes moving towards 10 out of 10. If I can stop him in under eight, that would be nice. It would make it eight in eight for me and I want that 10. I’ve got a longer time to do it with 10 rounds.”
In other news, Noakes on Monday signed a new contract to extend his promotional agreement with Queensberry, as well as his management association with Francis Warren. “I am very happy with the way my career has been dealt with so far,” he explained. “I’ve got a good connection with Francis and I am happy where I am. If it isn’t broken don’t fix it and we will keep doing what we’re doing. I have been told I will be back out again in February and that is all I know really. Tell me when and I will fight and train, that is all I do really, just keep it simple. It has all been sweet for me, seven KOs and getting a little title fight before the end of the year!”
In the bill topper, Manchester’s Lyndon Arthur (19-0, 13 KOs) defends his Commonwealth light heavyweight title against Ilford’s Anthony Yarde (21-2, 20 KOs) in a rematch of last December’s controversial clash that he won on points... Ilford junior middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz (13-0, 9 KOs) finds himself in against former British champion Bradley Skeete (29-3, 14 KOs) and... Mill Hill heavyweight George Fox (4-0) faces a tough eight rounder against Pole Kamil Sokolowki (10-23-2, 4 KOs).
