Sam Noakes vs Yvan Mendy

British Lightweight Champion Sam Noakes will defend his four title belts at York Hall on Saturday April 20, live on TNT Sports.

In co-headline action, the undefeated super lightweight Henry Turner (12-0, 4 KOs) will make a fourth defence of his WBC International Silver title against fellow unbeaten challenger Bradley Townsend (16-0, 2). Liverpool firebrand Andrew Cain (10-1, 9), the former WBC International Silver champion at super bantamweight, makes his return from a serious hand injury in eight round action at bantamweight.

Last time out in February, Noakes (13-0, 13), from Maidstone, added the British and WBO International titles to the WBC International Silver and Commonwealth honours already in his name with a brutal four-round destruction of the previously unbeaten Lewis Sylvester.

The knockout sequence of High Wycombe man Turner, 23, was halted back in November when he went up against the former Southern Area and English champion Billy Allington, although he prevailed comfortably on the scorecards. He now takes on an undefeated opponent in Witney’s Townsend, 28, for the first time in his professional career.

Cain, 27, had his reign of terror at bantamweight ended by Ionut Baluta a year ago in Telford. The KO-artist put the Romanian down twice in the first round only to suffer a fractured hand in the process and was ultimately subject to a highly-disputed loss on points.

Extensive surgery to his hand followed that has kept him out of the ring for a prolonged period of time. Also featuring on the card, explosive cruiserweight Aloys Jr (6-1, 6) will have his first fight over the eight-round distance and big-punching super welterweight Ben Fail (5-0, 4) will also fight over six, along with Crayford super welter Jack Olephant (1-0). In four round action is Upminster lightweight Billy Adams (2-0), plus the professional debuts of outstanding amateur stars Joe Cooper from Sandy and Eoghan Lavin from Ballyhaunis in Ireland. “This is another card where our elite young band of highly talented fighters get the chance to shine,” said promoter Frank Warren. “These shows are quite literally the making of our young stars and we always make sure these development cards are topped by significant title action, this time featuring Sam Noakes and Henry Turner. “Sam continues to blaze his way through the lightweight division and he will get to make a first defence of the British title he was so happy to win late last year, while Henry is back in another defence of his WBC belt against an excellent challenger in Bradley Townsend, who gets his big chance. “I cannot wait to see Andrew Cain back in the ring at bantamweight. I firmly believe he would be a major champion by now if it were not for the severe hand injury he sustained that affected him so much in Telford last year. “Aloys Jr and Ben Fail will continue to thrill, I’m sure, while I am excited to launch the professional careers of elite amateur stars Joe Cooper and Eoghan Lavin, who I am delighted have chosen Queensberry to guide their careers.

WINS
16
LOSES
0
DRAW
0
KOs
14

SamNoakes

“Midge"

SAM NOAKES IS now the British, Commonwealth, European, WBO International and WBC International Silver lightweight champion.

Four of these prestigious titles have come in the space of his last six fights, marking him down as a major threat in the lightweight division.

The formidable Noakes publicly declared his ambition to have his first 10 fights culminate in stoppages and his goal was reached in spectacular fashion at The O2 in November 2022 when he overwhelmed the previously unbeaten Calvin McCord to add the Commonwealth title to the WBC International Silver championship belt he already owned.

Noakes admitted that his perfect 10 became a regular talking point he could have done without. He made himself a hostage to fortune and probably put some unnecessary pressure on himself to deliver an emphatic finish time after time.