From supermarket job snub to the ‘Kent Golovkin’
Some boxers are just cut from a different cloth.
A British, Commonwealth and European champion, Maidstone lightweight Sam Noakes is edging closer to world honours.
With 13 knockouts in 14 wins, the 27-year-old boasts an almost perfect record, but when a shot at a world-title does present itself, Noakes will not be searching for an easy ride.
“I know it sounds silly, but I wouldn’t mind having a couple of black eyes, maybe even getting dropped, then coming back to win,” he tells BBC Sport.
“I want it to be like a Rocky film.”
Noakes will make a first defence of his European title against Italian Gianluca Ceglia at York Hall on Friday.
“Hopefully next year I’ll have a crack at a world title,” he adds. “We’ve got to just keep winning.”
‘I planned to quit boxing at 16’
Noakes’ finishing ability has earned him the nickname ‘The Kent Golovkin’, after Kazakhstani knockout specialist Gennady.
Promoter Frank Warren is tipping Noakes as a future world champion, but it could have all been so different.
After leaving school, Noakes dropped out of college and worked for short spells at a well-known fast food restaurant and a call centre.
He was “gutted” to have not been offered a job working at a supermarket giant but soon found his calling as a roofer.
Boxing was never really a viable career choice.
“I planned to quit boxing as a junior at 16 but I never did stop, and when I got to 19 or 20 I realised I could have a good crack at this,” he says.
“I started doing the training and weight right. Within two years of me putting my head down, I won a national title and then signed with Frank Warren.”
World title quest & Saudi bouts
The lightweight division is packed with talent and Noakes is acutely aware of the difficulty in winning a world title.
American Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is the WBA world champion, with compatriot Shakur Stevenson the WBC title holder.
The IBF and WBO belts are held by Ukrainian duo Vasiliy Lomachenko and Denys Berinchyk respectively.
“It’s a very packed division but that means more people will watch it and be interested in it,” Noakes says.
Noakes’ older brother, 29-year-old welterweight Sean, is also an undefeated pro with eight wins.
The pair drive each other to weigh-ins and media days during fight week, but the journeys may soon become a little tricky.
Noakes, who has only ever fought in London as a pro, is eyeing up lucrative bouts in Saudi Arabia and says Portsmouth’s Mark Chamberlain is a potential opponent.
Chamberlain boasts 12 knockouts in 16 wins and has become a firm favourite of influential Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.
“I’ve said numerous times I’m ready for that fight to be made. I’m up for it whenever he wants it to happen,” Noakes says.
“It’s only a matter of time before I fight in Saudi. All I can do over here is keep winning and beating whoever they put in front of me in style, and it’s inevitability going to happen.”
Saudi Arabia has poured millions into boxing in recent years and continues to face accusations of sportswashing and criticism of their human rights record.
Their influence has spread outside the Kingdom, with Saudi backing Daniel Dubois v Anthony Joshua at Wembley on 21 September, and Chamberlain on the undercard.