NOAKES ON NOAKES DEBUT

SAM NOAKES WILL happily step out of the spotlight tonight and let his brother Sean take centre stage for his professional debut at York Hall.

Sean, 26 and two years his senior, takes on Lee Hallett at London’s home of boxing and the Noakes’, along with extended family and friends, will be out in force to support the fledgling welterweight at the launch of his pro voyage.

“I am really looking forward to it,” said the 9-0 lightweight, who provided the inspiration for Sean to revive his own boxing ambitions. “He has been doing some really entertaining rounds with Micky Burke jr and is looking class. Micky Burke sr has done a very good job with him over in Bexley, where they train and he is looking really sharp.

“I know he is buzzing, obviously, and even though his date got pushed back a bit, he has been really professional and his weight has been spot on. Hopefully he just goes in and does the business.”

Sam has not really found the need to pass on any pearls of professional wisdom to his sibling and says it is all about enjoying his time in the ring.

“He knows the crack so it has been more ‘go out there and enjoy it’ and then everything else will fall into place.

“York Hall is brilliant from a fan’s perspective and, when you walk out, it is always loud and it will be electric tonight. For me personally, I prefer a bigger venue because the changing rooms are a bit better!

“As a fighter though you have to box at York Hall. You can’t be a professional boxer in England and not box there.”

On his own prospects for the rest of 2022, Sam anticipates returning to the ring in July with the objective of reaching his KO-goal and hints the much-talked-about collision with Mark Chamberlain could well be looming.

“It would be nice to get to 10 fights and 10 KOs and I would like to fight another two or three times before the end of the year. Then next year I would like to fight for the British and I feel the Mark Chamberlain fight isn’t far away.

“If it doesn’t happen this year, it isn’t going to be long to wait. We are both flying for it.”