Mason admits Noakes fight forced tactical U-turn ahead of Bell defense
WBO lightweight king Abdullah Mason says his grueling title win over Sam Noakes taught him to fight smarter, not harder, setting up his first title defense against unbeaten Albert Bell.
Abdullah Mason says his grueling WBO lightweight title win over Sam Noakes forced him to scrap raw power for boxing IQ—a lesson he’ll carry into his first title defense against unbeaten Albert Bell. The 22-year-old Mason needed the full 12 rounds to outpoint Noakes via split decision on April 27 in Manchester, a fight that exposed the limits of his one-punch power against a slick counter-striker. Mason landed 158 of 537 punches (29%) while Noakes connected on 124 of 442 (28%), but the judges’ cards split 115-113, 114-113, 113-114 in Mason’s favor after he absorbed early pressure and adjusted mid-fight.
