Mikey Williams/Top RankAbdullah Mason is set for his first major title fight.
The fast-rising lightweight is set to face Sam Noakes in a vacant WBO lightweight title fight between unbeaten contenders. Their clash will take place in November as part of a Riyadh Season show being put together by the team headed by Turki Alashikh, who announced the fight.
“A battle of undefeated fighters for the world title,” Alalshikh revealed overnight. “Abdullah Mason will collide with Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight title, as part of the MASSIVE Riyadh Season event in November.”
The matchup joins two other confirmed title fights for the show. As previously reported by BoxingScene, David Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs) will risk his WBC light heavyweight title against former title challenger Anthony Yarde, while WBO welterweight titlist Brian Norman Jnr, 28-0 (22 KOs) takes on former two-division champ Devin Haney, 32-0 (15 KOs).
Mason, 19-0 (17 KOs), was in the absolute right place at the right time for his last ring outing. The 21-year-old southpaw shone in his first main event, as he forced veteran gatekeeper Jeremia Nakathila to quit after four rounds in their June 7 clash in Norfolk, Virginia. The bout was advanced to headlining act when Keyshawn Davis failed to make weight for his eventually canceled WBO lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos.
Davis was stripped of the belt after coming in well over the lightweight limit. The development opened a door for Mason, who is just behind Noakes, 17-0 (15 KOs) atop the WBO 135lbs rankings.
Noakes will fight outside of the United Kingdom for the first time as a pro.
The 27-year-old from Maidstone, Kent is fresh off a third-round knockout win over Patrik Balaz on May 10 in Nottingham, England. It came on the heels of a four-win campaign in 2024, including notable victories over Lewis Sylvester, Yvan Mendy and Ryan Walsh.
Mason has stopped his last nine opponents. He’s already racked up three wins inside the distance in 2025, following a five-knockout 2024 run that saw him blitz past the prospect stage and straight to the contender level.
His matchup with Noakes will represents Mason’s first scheduled 12-round contest. He’s yet to be extended past the sixth round.
