SAM NOAKES’ brave world title effort ended in defeat to Abdullah Mason after 12 gruelling rounds.
Noakes – who could have been mistaken for taking half of Maidstone with him to Riyadh – gave the American all he could handle over 12 rounds.
But there could be no argument after the scores read 117-111, 115-113, 115-113 in favour of Mason – who was crowned the new WBO lightweight champion.
The 21-year-old – one of FIVE boxing brothers – looked on the way to an early victory after flying out of the traps in the first three rounds.
Noakes – cut from the fourth round – was wobbled in the third after a big left hand landed down the pipe – but he bit down on his gumshield and fired back.
Over the next two rounds, Noakes fought his way back into the contest which looked to be running away from him.
By the sixth, it was an all-out war with Noakes cut and Mason desperately trying to claw back his early momentum.
Noakes snapped Mason’s head back in round seven – with brother Sean – the English welterweight champ – screaming instructions from ringside.
It was Mason’s turn to score big in the eighth after landing with a painful body shot before teeing off on the ropes.
A huge double left hand from the Ohio-born caught the eye in round nine as Noakes tried to rough up his man.
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In rounds ten and 11, it seemed both men struck a silent agreement to dig their feet in and trade swiping hooks on the inside.
Noakes had an encouraging 11th round but Mason ran away with the 12th and final stanza to wrap up a deserving win.
