Home Columns Sam Noakes vs Yvan Mendy – Big Fight Preview & Predictions

Sam Noakes vs Yvan Mendy – Big Fight Preview & Predictions

Noakes competes for European honours against Mendy.

Mendy represents a considerable step up for Noakes (Queensberry)
Mendy represents a considerable step up for Noakes (Queensberry)

Sam Noakes attempts to keep his perfect record in tact at York Hall this Saturday evening, as he looks to add the vacant European lightweight title to his collection with a win over the tough veteran, Yvan Mendy.

Queensberry promote Noakes vs Mendy, and TNT Sports televise the bill in the UK.
Noakes (13-0, 13 KOs) has passed every test to date as a pro with flying colours, and the furthest distance he has been is into the ninth round, when he halted Shaun Cooper in December 2021.
Since then, he has added the Commonwealth crown to his WBC International Silver strap, stopping Calvin McCord in four rounds in November 2022, and the Kent man was last out in February, taking the vacant British and WBO International titles by stopping Lewis Sylvester in four rounds.
He now steps up in class to take on Mendy (48-6-1, 22 KOs), a 38-year-old who has been a professional since 2006, and is a former holder of the European lightweight title.

The Frenchman is probably best known for upsetting Luke Campbell by split decision in 2015, although Campbell did gain revenge three years later on the cards.
He has never been stopped, and his last loss came in September 2022, shipping the European title to Denys Berinchyk. Mendy is coming off a split decision win against the unbeaten Bastien Ballesta last May.
Mendy will likely be Noakes' toughest test so far (Photo Credit: Reuters)
Mendy will likely be Noakes’ toughest test so far (Photo Credit: Reuters)
Prediction: Noakes has started his career in wrecking ball fashion, but he may well have to box to orders against Mendy, who is a live veteran. We may very well see Noakes hear the final bell for the first time, before winning clearly on the scorecards to take the title.
 
Undercard preview:
On the undercard Henry Turner (13-0, 4 KOs) defends his WBC International Silver super lightweight title for a fourth time on this bill, and should have enough to defeat Maykol Mendoza (16-4, 14 KOs).

Turner is fresh off a clear points win over Billy Allington, while Columbia’s Mendoza has been stopped three times in four defeats, and hasn’t been past eight rounds. Turner can win inside schedule.
In eight round action, Andrew Cain (10-1, 9 KOs) looks to bounce back from his first pro defeat to Ionut Baluta, and he can record a stoppage win against Darwing Martinez (8-19-2, 6 KOs) at bantamweight.
Andrew Cain will look to get back in the winners column this weekend (Photo Credit: Stephen Dunkley, Queensberry)
Andrew Cain will look to get back in the winners column this weekend (Photo Credit: Stephen Dunkley, Queensberry)
Cruiserweight prospect Aloys Youmbi (6-1, 6 KOs) should also win early in his eight rounder against Pablo Oscar Natalio Farias (32-6-1, 17 KOs).

The sole six rounder is at super welterweight, where Jack Oliphant (1-0, 0 KOs) should come through on the cards against Remi Scholer (3-10, 0 KOs).
In four rounders, Billy Turner (2-0, 0 KOs) can bag a points win at super featherweight against Mark Butler (2-10, 1 KOs), and Sam King (2-0, 1 KO) can do the same at middleweight against Artjom Spatar (4-7, 1 KO). Also at middleweight, debutant Eoghan Lavin should start with a win on the cards against Vasif Mamedov (3-49-5, 0 KO).