In his four years as a pro Sam Noakes has fought 12 times with not one opponent lasting the distance. Ahead of his British lightweight title fight against Lewis Sylvester the 26-year-old speaks to Boxing News about the perfect start to his career, Gavin Gwynne vs. Mark Chamberlain, “niggles” in sparring, and more.
Interview by Shaun Brown
BN: Your fight against Lewis Sylvester is now for the vacant British lightweight title. What does that mean to you?
SN: It’s massive. Everyone’s thinking about world titles but the only other one I’ve had my eye set on is a British so I’m going to do everything in my power to win it come fight night.
BN: Did you want to go the traditional route of British, Commonwealth and European?
SN: It’s always something I’d like to do. It’s good to do it that way because you don’t want to rush and then try to get to world level as quickly as you can and come unstuck. You’ve got pay your dues in that respect and do it the proper way. I think that’s the way Al(an) [Smith] wants to guide me. I put my career in his hands; I’ve got all my faith in him. As long as I keep winning, keep learning, keep fighting… pick that British title up and I’d be buzzing. And then keep pushing on that traditional way.
BN: So, what do you know about Lewis Sylvester?
SN: He’s a good fighter; a good boxer. He’s gonna be hungry for it, I know that much. It’s got the makings of a real good fight. He’s probably trained the hardest he ever has for a fight, the same as I have so, I think it’s going to be a good matchup.
BN: In your 12 fights to date no opponent has gone the distance with you. Do you now go into your fights expecting that streak to continue?
SN: I’ve always had that belief that it may happen anyway. I always fight at a high pace with high pressure. Nine times out of 10 that’s what ends up happening. I want to keep that streak going, I’ll always want to until I end up going the distance, but it’ll always be in the back of my head. I’ve had a good run of it really, with 12 out of 12.
BN: Normally at the beginning of a career journeymen take prospects the distance but you were getting them out of there.
SN: I fight at quite a high pace. I’m quite relentless in that respect. I ain’t got no real highlight reel KOs as such. Don’t get me wrong my finishes still look good but it’s none of these one-punch boom knockouts. I’m not saying I ain’t got that power, but I probably throw too many punches at once to get one big shot off. I think 12 rounds is a long time to go with me. And with the preparation I’ve had and the camp I’ve had – I know you probably hear that from every fighter – but it has gone really well. Now it’s about going in there and doing the business.
BN: To be fair, there aren’t many going about these days who knock people out with one punch.
SN: Yeah, especially when you get up to that level when someone’s got to make a clean mistake for you to do it. Fundamentally I just want to win. And second to that, I don’t want it to go 12 rounds. As in how it actually looks when I win, I’m not really that bothered.
BN: You spoke how you’ve had a great camp, and every fighter does say that. Only afterwards do you find out if it wasn’t. So far, have you ever had a camp that’s been stop-start or interrupted by injury?
SN: I’ve had ones where I’ve had injuries in sparring. I’ve had injuries in the last spar a few times and they add little things in the back of your head. But I’ve come through this one pretty sweet. I remember when I fought Vincenzo Finiello, I broke my hand beforehand in the last spar, but I still had to fight. I’ve been cut in a final spar as well. Knowing this has been for the British title I’ve enjoyed it more. I’ve had a better camp just in myself. I ain’t been like, “Oh, I’ve got to spar today.” I’ve been looking forward to sparring this time because it’s such a big fight to me and it means so much.
BN: Have these injuries made you rethink how you spar?
SN: We’ve got it down to a tee. You’re never going to be able to not spar. I think it’s more so in my head not trying as hard. Pushing when you need to push rather than keep going 100 per cent all the time because that’s when the injuries will start to come. When I say injuries they’re probably more like niggles. I’ve had a couple of hand niggles but other than that I think you learn about yourself and what’s best for you. You’re more likely to under-train than over-train. When I first started, I thought the more I train the better I’ll be but really, you’ve gotta train right. I ain’t no spring chicken no more either so I’ve got to look after my body.
BN: I wanted to get your take on the European lightweight title fight on March 8 between Gavin Gwynne and Mark Chamberlain, but first of all did you think you’d get the call to fight Gwynne?
SN: I definitely thought we’d be fighting at some stage. I think how it went was we got offered the date of February 10. I was on holiday when I got offered it and I said yes to fighting either one of them. I’m not saying they said no to fighting me. I think it didn’t quite fit in with what they had planned. I reckon I’ll definitely fight the winner of that fight anyway but there might be a fight in-between first. All three of us are all up for fighting each other. I don’t think no-one wants to fight me, that’s just silly to say that. Everyone wants to fight, it’s the fight game. I’ve ended up fighting Sylvester and they’ve ended up fighting each other.
BN: So, who wins out of Gwynne and Chamberlain?
SN: I am totally on the fence. I can see Gwynne overpowering him and being too much, but it all comes down to how well Gwynne takes his left hand. I think it’s a brilliant fight and I’m looking forward to watching it. I’ve got my eye on it anyway because I want the winner, but it is a good fight.
BN: It looks like a big 2024 is in store for you potentially.
SN: That’s what I want as well. I’ve learned my craft as a pro. I’ve been pro four years; this is my fifth. Me and the team are ready for them big fights. February 10 is the start of a big year and with everything that’s going on in Saudi Arabia it’d be nice to box out there at some point this year.
BN: How do see Vasyl Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos going?
SN: I reckon Lomachenko beats him. From what I’ve heard and seen Maxi Hughes beat Kambosos last time out. Maxi’s had a bit of hard luck there, he should be fighting Lomachenko for the IBF title. It’s boxing.
BN: This time next year you’ll be expecting to knock on the door of world level, won’t you?
SN: I think finish this year undefeated and 2025 is going to be massive.
