NOAKES AT THE DOUBLE
FORMER SUCCESSFUL AMATEUR star Sean Noakes is turning professional with Frank Warren and is set to make his debut at York Hall on April 29.
Sean will join brother Sam in the Queensberry ranks and now the 26-year-old Maidstone man will be looking to emulate the knockout impression made by his younger sibling
“I am over the moon and it has been a long time coming, really,” said the welterweight. “I have been trying to turn pro for a while then lockdown got in the way and I wanted to do the ABAs first.
“So I waited for the ABAs, did well in them, then Francis (Warren) approached me about when I wanted to turn pro and it went from there.”
The older Noakes brother went on the boxing missing list after a productive stint in the junior amateurs before being inspired to give it another bash after assessing the competition.
“I turned 17 and took a few years out because I fell out of love with the sport a little bit. I remember watching my brother fight in the NABC finals against Jordan Flynn. I was always a weight above my brother and I watched him, then the fight after, and I thought ‘I can beat these kids’.
“So I came back and after one fight I boxed for the Southern Area title and won that before getting down to my natural weight – which is welter – and going into the Haringeys and winning them. I won everything, pretty much, until the ABAs, which I thought I won but didn’t get the right end of the decision.
“So my ability was still there and I still had it, it was just the fire went out a little bit at 17 when I started going out and being a bit silly. Then I got my shot at redemption and jumped at it.
“As a junior I was always there or thereabouts, but I only had 20 fights and I only lost to top boys in Ted Cheeseman and Jordan Reynolds. I thought I beat Jordan even though I am pals with him now.
“I’ve come into my man strength because I was a bit of a late bloomer. Now I have got it and every time I land, it hurts.”
Comparisons with brother Sam are inevitable but Sean points out that they employ very different styles. Seeing Sam make a success of his journey so far has given Sean the impetus to jump on the professional bandwagon, although the pair will not train in tandem.
“It has literally made me more hungry. Seeing his determination has fuelled me as well to achieve more. When I see him doing it I know I can do the same and I know I have got it in me.
“We are very, very different. We carry the same sort of power but he hits conclusively with every shot while I try to set up my big shots with short, fast ones. I like to pick my shots and not walk through them.
“We kept apart deliberately because it is his place of work and if I went there I would be Sam’s brother. We spend enough time together as it is and it would have been too much!”
And Bethnal Green beckons at the end of the month.
“I found out on Friday that I am boxing at York Hall and I reckon I might get a few more people coming down than my brother. I like to think I am a bit nicer than he is!”
