Abdullah Mason tops Sam Noakes in all-out slugfest…

Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes put on an instant classic Saturday in Riyadh. (Richard Pelham via Getty Images)Abdullah Mason fulfilled his goal of becoming boxing’s youngest active male world champion, but Sam Noakes made him earn it. The 21-year-old American outlasted England’s Noakes in a grueling slugfest to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title Saturday on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde undercard at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Despite being extended past the sixth round for the first time in his pro career, Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) caught a second wind and sprinted to the finish, winning the all-action affair via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113). In doing so, he eclipsed 23-year-old WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas as the sport’s youngest current male world titleholder.Mason has long been considered a blue-chip pugilistic prospect — he ranked No. 3 on Uncrowned’s recent list of the top athletes in combat sports under the age of 25 — but the teak-tough Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) met the challenge head-on Saturday in a bout that tested the new champ unlike any before.AdvertisementNoakes repeatedly forced the longer, faster Mason to neglect his physical advantages, drawing the American into a clinch fight with an unceasing march of forward pressure. As a result, both men spent long swathes of the bout trading heavy shots on the inside, battering each other’s midsections in extended sequences of high-volume action.An inadvertent head clash opened a cut above Noakes’ left eye early in Round 3, however the previously unbeaten Brit was undeterred; he continued working the body and grinding out offense inside the phone-booth confines, banking several early and middle rounds by wearing down Mason with a steady stream of body work. Mason responded at nearly every turn though, finding a home with darting uppercuts on the inside, then blasting Noakes with snapping straight punches from range whenever the two separated.Mason’s best round came in the 10th, when he appeared to badly hurt Noakes with a right uppercut to the liver. Sensing the moment, Mason tried to tee off and topple his English foe, however Noakes gamely bit down on his gumshield and fired back, surviving to hear the bell on his feet.The final punch stats told the story of the bout, as Mason landed 214 of 566 of his total punches (38%) while Noakes landed 156 of 613 (25%). Mason also edged Noakes in power punches (158 to 135) and body work (51 to 39), while just 17 of Noakes 230 jab attempts found their mark.AdvertisementNoakes entered the contest having captured a variety of regional belts — the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International titles — on the UK professional scene.Check out Uncrowned’s full coverage of Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde pay-per-view in Riyadh, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire main card.Abdullah Mason tops Sam Noakes in all-out slugfest to become boxing’s youngest male world champion
Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes put on an instant classic Saturday in Riyadh. (Richard Pelham via Getty Images)Abdullah Mason fulfilled his goal of becoming boxing’s youngest active male world champion, but Sam Noakes made him earn it. The 21-year-old American outlasted England’s Noakes in a grueling slugfest to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title Saturday on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde undercard at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Despite being extended past the sixth round for the first time in his pro career, Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) caught a second wind and sprinted to the finish, winning the all-action affair via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113). In doing so, he eclipsed 23-year-old WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas as the sport’s youngest current male world titleholder.Mason has long been considered a blue-chip pugilistic prospect — he ranked No. 3 on Uncrowned’s recent list of the top athletes in combat sports under the age of 25 — but the teak-tough Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) met the challenge head-on Saturday in a bout that tested the new champ unlike any before.AdvertisementNoakes repeatedly forced the longer, faster Mason to neglect his physical advantages, drawing the American into a clinch fight with an unceasing march of forward pressure. As a result, both men spent long swathes of the bout trading heavy shots on the inside, battering each other’s midsections in extended sequences of high-volume action.An inadvertent head clash opened a cut above Noakes’ left eye early in Round 3, however the previously unbeaten Brit was undeterred; he continued working the body and grinding out offense inside the phone-booth confines, banking several early and middle rounds by wearing down Mason with a steady stream of body work. Mason responded at nearly every turn though, finding a home with darting uppercuts on the inside, then blasting Noakes with snapping straight punches from range whenever the two separated.Mason’s best round came in the 10th, when he appeared to badly hurt Noakes with a right uppercut to the liver. Sensing the moment, Mason tried to tee off and topple his English foe, however Noakes gamely bit down on his gumshield and fired back, surviving to hear the bell on his feet.The final punch stats told the story of the bout, as Mason landed 214 of 566 of his total punches (38%) while Noakes landed 156 of 613 (25%). Mason also edged Noakes in power punches (158 to 135) and body work (51 to 39), while just 17 of Noakes 230 jab attempts found their mark.AdvertisementNoakes entered the contest having captured a variety of regional belts — the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International titles — on the UK professional scene.Check out Uncrowned’s full coverage of Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde pay-per-view in Riyadh, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire main card.Abdullah Mason tops Sam Noakes in all-out slugfest to become boxing’s youngest male world champion
Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes put on an instant classic Saturday in Riyadh. (Richard Pelham via Getty Images)Abdullah Mason fulfilled his goal of becoming boxing’s youngest active male world champion, but Sam Noakes made him earn it. The 21-year-old American outlasted England’s Noakes in a grueling slugfest to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title Saturday on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde undercard at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Despite being extended past the sixth round for the first time in his pro career, Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) caught a second wind and sprinted to the finish, winning the all-action affair via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113). In doing so, he eclipsed 23-year-old WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas as the sport’s youngest current male world titleholder.Mason has long been considered a blue-chip pugilistic prospect — he ranked No. 3 on Uncrowned’s recent list of the top athletes in combat sports under the age of 25 — but the teak-tough Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) met the challenge head-on Saturday in a bout that tested the new champ unlike any before.AdvertisementNoakes repeatedly forced the longer, faster Mason to neglect his physical advantages, drawing the American into a clinch fight with an unceasing march of forward pressure. As a result, both men spent long swathes of the bout trading heavy shots on the inside, battering each other’s midsections in extended sequences of high-volume action.An inadvertent head clash opened a cut above Noakes’ left eye early in Round 3, however the previously unbeaten Brit was undeterred; he continued working the body and grinding out offense inside the phone-booth confines, banking several early and middle rounds by wearing down Mason with a steady stream of body work. Mason responded at nearly every turn though, finding a home with darting uppercuts on the inside, then blasting Noakes with snapping straight punches from range whenever the two separated.Mason’s best round came in the 10th, when he appeared to badly hurt Noakes with a right uppercut to the liver. Sensing the moment, Mason tried to tee off and topple his English foe, however Noakes gamely bit down on his gumshield and fired back, surviving to hear the bell on his feet.The final punch stats told the story of the bout, as Mason landed 214 of 566 of his total punches (38%) while Noakes landed 156 of 613 (25%). Mason also edged Noakes in power punches (158 to 135) and body work (51 to 39), while just 17 of Noakes 230 jab attempts found their mark.AdvertisementNoakes entered the contest having captured a variety of regional belts — the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International titles — on the UK professional scene.Check out Uncrowned’s full coverage of Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde pay-per-view in Riyadh, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire main card.Abdullah Mason tops Sam Noakes in all-out slugfest to become boxing’s youngest male world champion
Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes put on an instant classic Saturday in Riyadh. (Richard Pelham via Getty Images)Abdullah Mason fulfilled his goal of becoming boxing’s youngest active male world champion, but Sam Noakes made him earn it. The 21-year-old American outlasted England’s Noakes in a grueling slugfest to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title Saturday on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde undercard at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Despite being extended past the sixth round for the first time in his pro career, Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) caught a second wind and sprinted to the finish, winning the all-action affair via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113). In doing so, he eclipsed 23-year-old WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas as the sport’s youngest current male world titleholder.Mason has long been considered a blue-chip pugilistic prospect — he ranked No. 3 on Uncrowned’s recent list of the top athletes in combat sports under the age of 25 — but the teak-tough Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) met the challenge head-on Saturday in a bout that tested the new champ unlike any before.AdvertisementNoakes repeatedly forced the longer, faster Mason to neglect his physical advantages, drawing the American into a clinch fight with an unceasing march of forward pressure. As a result, both men spent long swathes of the bout trading heavy shots on the inside, battering each other’s midsections in extended sequences of high-volume action.An inadvertent head clash opened a cut above Noakes’ left eye early in Round 3, however the previously unbeaten Brit was undeterred; he continued working the body and grinding out offense inside the phone-booth confines, banking several early and middle rounds by wearing down Mason with a steady stream of body work. Mason responded at nearly every turn though, finding a home with darting uppercuts on the inside, then blasting Noakes with snapping straight punches from range whenever the two separated.Mason’s best round came in the 10th, when he appeared to badly hurt Noakes with a right uppercut to the liver. Sensing the moment, Mason tried to tee off and topple his English foe, however Noakes gamely bit down on his gumshield and fired back, surviving to hear the bell on his feet.The final punch stats told the story of the bout, as Mason landed 214 of 566 of his total punches (38%) while Noakes landed 156 of 613 (25%). Mason also edged Noakes in power punches (158 to 135) and body work (51 to 39), while just 17 of Noakes 230 jab attempts found their mark.AdvertisementNoakes entered the contest having captured a variety of regional belts — the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International titles — on the UK professional scene.Check out Uncrowned’s full coverage of Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde pay-per-view in Riyadh, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire main card.Abdullah Mason tops Sam Noakes in all-out slugfest to become boxing’s youngest male world champion
Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes put on an instant classic Saturday in Riyadh. (Richard Pelham via Getty Images)Abdullah Mason fulfilled his goal of becoming boxing’s youngest active male world champion, but Sam Noakes made him earn it. The 21-year-old American outlasted England’s Noakes in a grueling slugfest to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title Saturday on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde undercard at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Despite being extended past the sixth round for the first time in his pro career, Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) caught a second wind and sprinted to the finish, winning the all-action affair via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113). In doing so, he eclipsed 23-year-old WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas as the sport’s youngest current male world titleholder.Mason has long been considered a blue-chip pugilistic prospect — he ranked No. 3 on Uncrowned’s recent list of the top athletes in combat sports under the age of 25 — but the teak-tough Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) met the challenge head-on Saturday in a bout that tested the new champ unlike any before.AdvertisementNoakes repeatedly forced the longer, faster Mason to neglect his physical advantages, drawing the American into a clinch fight with an unceasing march of forward pressure. As a result, both men spent long swathes of the bout trading heavy shots on the inside, battering each other’s midsections in extended sequences of high-volume action.An inadvertent head clash opened a cut above Noakes’ left eye early in Round 3, however the previously unbeaten Brit was undeterred; he continued working the body and grinding out offense inside the phone-booth confines, banking several early and middle rounds by wearing down Mason with a steady stream of body work. Mason responded at nearly every turn though, finding a home with darting uppercuts on the inside, then blasting Noakes with snapping straight punches from range whenever the two separated.Mason’s best round came in the 10th, when he appeared to badly hurt Noakes with a right uppercut to the liver. Sensing the moment, Mason tried to tee off and topple his English foe, however Noakes gamely bit down on his gumshield and fired back, surviving to hear the bell on his feet.The final punch stats told the story of the bout, as Mason landed 214 of 566 of his total punches (38%) while Noakes landed 156 of 613 (25%). Mason also edged Noakes in power punches (158 to 135) and body work (51 to 39), while just 17 of Noakes 230 jab attempts found their mark.AdvertisementNoakes entered the contest having captured a variety of regional belts — the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International titles — on the UK professional scene.Check out Uncrowned’s full coverage of Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde pay-per-view in Riyadh, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire main card.Abdullah Mason tops Sam Noakes in all-out slugfest to become boxing’s youngest male world champion
Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes put on an instant classic Saturday in Riyadh. (Richard Pelham via Getty Images)Abdullah Mason fulfilled his goal of becoming boxing’s youngest active male world champion, but Sam Noakes made him earn it. The 21-year-old American outlasted England’s Noakes in a grueling slugfest to capture the vacant WBO lightweight title Saturday on the David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde undercard at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Despite being extended past the sixth round for the first time in his pro career, Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) caught a second wind and sprinted to the finish, winning the all-action affair via unanimous decision (117-111, 115-113, 115-113). In doing so, he eclipsed 23-year-old WBO super welterweight champion Xander Zayas as the sport’s youngest current male world titleholder.Mason has long been considered a blue-chip pugilistic prospect — he ranked No. 3 on Uncrowned’s recent list of the top athletes in combat sports under the age of 25 — but the teak-tough Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) met the challenge head-on Saturday in a bout that tested the new champ unlike any before.AdvertisementNoakes repeatedly forced the longer, faster Mason to neglect his physical advantages, drawing the American into a clinch fight with an unceasing march of forward pressure. As a result, both men spent long swathes of the bout trading heavy shots on the inside, battering each other’s midsections in extended sequences of high-volume action.An inadvertent head clash opened a cut above Noakes’ left eye early in Round 3, however the previously unbeaten Brit was undeterred; he continued working the body and grinding out offense inside the phone-booth confines, banking several early and middle rounds by wearing down Mason with a steady stream of body work. Mason responded at nearly every turn though, finding a home with darting uppercuts on the inside, then blasting Noakes with snapping straight punches from range whenever the two separated.Mason’s best round came in the 10th, when he appeared to badly hurt Noakes with a right uppercut to the liver. Sensing the moment, Mason tried to tee off and topple his English foe, however Noakes gamely bit down on his gumshield and fired back, surviving to hear the bell on his feet.The final punch stats told the story of the bout, as Mason landed 214 of 566 of his total punches (38%) while Noakes landed 156 of 613 (25%). Mason also edged Noakes in power punches (158 to 135) and body work (51 to 39), while just 17 of Noakes 230 jab attempts found their mark.AdvertisementNoakes entered the contest having captured a variety of regional belts — the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International titles — on the UK professional scene.Check out Uncrowned’s full coverage of Saturday’s David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde pay-per-view in Riyadh, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire main card.