Sam Noakes Eyes Title Fight with William Zepeda
British lightweight Sam Noakes kept himself firmly in the world-title picture with a dominant unanimous decision victory over former WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk at the O2 Arena in London. Currently ranked number four at 135 pounds, Noakes has his sights set on another opportunity to become a world champion, zeroing in on a potential fight with current IBF belt-holder William Zepeda.
Noakes (19-1, 16 KOs) controlled the contest from start to finish, earning scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. Rather than allowing the elusive Berinchyk to dictate the pace, Noakes used intelligent footwork to cut off the ring before closing the distance and landing combinations.
The younger, stronger Noakes steadily wore down Berinchyk (19-2, 9 KOs), who struggled to match his opponent’s physicality and work-rate. At 38, the older and smaller Berinchyk had nothing to trouble Noakes. It was an important bounce-back for Noakes, who suffered the first defeat of his professional career in November 2025 when he dropped a highly competitive decision to Abdullah Mason for the then-vacant WBO lightweight title.
ZEPEDA IN HIS FUTURE?
The Brit is hoping to land a fight with Zepeda within the next twelve months. During the buildup to his fight with Berinchyk, Noakes made it clear that he has no reservations about taking on the Mexican star. Noakes told British boxing media that he believes a fight with Zepeda would make for a “helluva battle” and said he would accept the matchup without hesitation if the opportunity were presented.
After putting together such a disciplined performance against a former world champion, Noakes has strengthened his case for another shot at the top. A showdown with Zepeda could provide him with the perfect opportunity to prove that his loss to Mason was merely a setback rather than a sign that he doesn’t belong among the lightweight elite.
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