European lightweight champ Sam Noakes wants to get his KO streak started again against Gianluca Ceglia
Unbeaten rising star Sam Noakes previews his mandatory EBU title defence to Gianluca Ceglia
UK’s rising lightweight star Sam Noakes (14-0, 13KO) has stopped the first 13 of his 14 opponents, collecting English, Commonwealth, British and European lightweight titles, as well as WBC and WBO International belts, which now sees him ranked in the top 15 in the world.
Now, Frank Warren’s undefeated European lightweight champion headlines for the second time in succession at the York Hall in London's East End on Friday, September 6, against mandatory challenger, Gianluca Ceglia (21-4-1, 4KO), 34 from Italy.
The experienced Italian is a former European Union lightweight champion, and this will be his second shot at the EBU title; his first crack came against the seasoned Yvan Mendy in 2022, denied on points for the fourth time in his 15-year career.
French veteran Mendy represents a shared opponent for this pair, who lost to but is the only one able to take Noakes the distance, just last April.
Despite stretching Sam to the final bell, Maidstone's Noakes was able to dominate the Parisien to score a shutout at 120-108 on all three cards in his first headlining slot at the York Hall, which has become a stomping ground for him and his army of fans from Kent.
Ceglia was dominated by the French ‘Lion’ in their fight two years ago, losing widely on all three scorecards – 117-110 and 116-111 twice.
Prior to Sam’s sole points decision, he had never entered double figures in a fight before, only reaching as far as the ninth round once. His knockout average is currently an impressive 3.5 rounds, he has stopped three of his unfortunate opponents in the third round and four in the fourth. His last four stoppages have all come before round five, clearly a powerful puncher and good finisher.
GBN spoke to the up-and-coming champion, who is just a few fights away from potentially conquering the world.
How did ot feel going a full 12-rounds for the first time, after only reaching as far as round nine once before?
“I’ts a long time to be in there! I’m just desperate to get back in winning and get my knockout streak going again. It’s a fight isn’t it, you are in there to fight, but I would like a knockout. I would like to get back on that.
“To be fair, we prepare for that [12 rounds] every fight, it’s not like we’re cutting rounds short, I’m always doing 12 rounds in the gym, always working to that number.
“Because you never know. Even with this geezer [next]; he’s tough and durable, you can see that from his record, so it ain’t a guarantee, but this [KO] is something that I want.
“I hope I can do what everyone is expecting. I mean, to be fair – not that I’ve been feeling bad in other fights – but I am feeling good!”
How has training camp been for you?
“They’re always enjoyable anyway, especially when you get to peak fitness. They’re worse at the start than they are at the end. At the start, you’re aching, you’re in bits, but then you’re just chomping at the bit. You get to the point where you just want to get in there and fight.”
Ceglia carries a high guard, so are you expecting he may be open to your signature body shots?
“He could probably take them all day long, that’s why his guard is high, it probably don’t bother him.
“Like Mendy, his guard was high and he just ate them [body shots].
“We’ll see; I always target the body anyway, especially if they show me openings like that. We’ll see how it unfolds; some people can just take them.
“I am looking forward to getting back in there, and I’ve had a good little run of fights now, it’s sort of building that momentum again, and hopefully get another one back in end of the year, in December.
“So it’s just nice to see some structure there and everything is moving in the right direction. So, fingers crossed, I get in, do a number on this geezer like everyone thinks [I will], then onto the next one.”
You train with Alan Smith and Eddie Lamm at the iBox Gym in Bromley, can you explain why you’ve got such a high knockout ratio for a lightweight?
“I’m quite good at reading body language, I suppose. Al [Smith] will tell you the same; if you watch Al when he gets in the corner, he looks over at the other geezer first, before he looks at me; as we’re stepping into the ring he’s looking over at the other bloke, just reading body language, and when he sits down in the other corner and things like that.
“But I’ve never been one to… so say if I was winning, I’m not really a showboater or anything like that. If I’m finding it easy then I’ll just drop the level a little bit and make it a little bit harder, I don’t want to be in there any longer than I have to.
“At the end of the day, you’re risking taking punishment, I’ve lost enough brain cells as it is, so I want to keep hold of the ones I’ve got!”
Who else trains with you in the iBox Gym?
“You got me; Henry Turner; Skye Nicolson; Will Hamilton; Leli Buttigiec; and Frank Woods just joined.
“If I ever get a southpaw [opponent], Henry’s perfect [for sparring]. You just can’t hurt him!
“We’ve had another guy called Dennis* in for sparring for this camp, he’s the weight above, but he’s ideal sparring for this fight; very tough, very game.
“We went down the Peacocks [Gym] to spar Billy Allington and one of their middleweights. I don’t go out sparring loads, really. We do two a week, so it’ll be like two eights [rounds], or one eight and a 10, which is plenty. The thing is fitness is never really an issue, to be honest.”
*Denis Denikajev is a former Southern Area and English super-lightweight champion, with just one loss on his record to Mikey Sakyi.
You have collected English, British, Commonwealth and European, plus WBC and WBO International titles, now ranked WBC #11, WBO #5 and IBO #10, is the next step the world title?
“I think it’ll probably next year when I could challenge for a world title, that’s the aim anyway.
“I’ve got a couple more fights this year, but the thing is I’ve still only had 14 fights; I’m not saying that I’m not ready, but these guys at the top of the world have had like 30-35 fights, you know what I mean, they’ve had loads of fights.
“I’m in no rush, but if a world title opportunity came up at the end of the year, I’d grab it with both hands. I’m just waiting patiently for the opportunity, but realistically if it takes six-12 months then it’s not a bad thing.
“They [Queensberry Promotions] have built my career very well, to be fair. I’m very happy with it.”
You can follow Sam on X: @SamNoakes3
