American boxer Abdullah Mason has made history, becoming the youngest men’s world champion in boxing after a hard-fought victory over Sam Noakes. The 21-year-old from Cleveland captured the vacant WBO lightweight title in Saudi Arabia last Saturday, winning by unanimous decision.
Mason, now 20-0 with 17 knockouts, went beyond six rounds for the first time in his professional career, earning judges’ scores of 117-111, 115-113, and 115-113 over the 28-year-old English fighter from Maidstone, Kent.
Noakes, who had previously tallied 17 wins and 15 knockouts, started the bout aggressively, unloading powerful hooks in the opening round. Mason, a southpaw, responded in the second round by establishing a precise jab that began to control the pace.
The third round saw Mason daze Noakes with a rapid combination capped by a left uppercut, while an accidental head clash left Noakes with a deep cut above his left eye. Noakes recovered in the fourth, landing sharp counters, and followed up with his best punch—a heavy right hand—in Round 5. Despite this, Mason’s left uppercuts kept him in command.
During rounds four and five, Mason engaged in close exchanges that favored Noakes momentarily, but by the sixth round, the American returned to his jab, regaining the upper hand. Noakes landed a punishing body shot in the seventh and connected with hooks later in the round, but Mason’s overall control throughout the bout secured his historic triumph.
With this victory, Abdullah Mason not only claimed the WBO lightweight crown but also solidified his place as boxing’s youngest men’s world champion—a milestone likely to mark the start of an impressive career.
