WBO Orders Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes for Vacant Light-weight Title

The WBO has formally ordered #1 Sam Noakes to start negotiations to face #2 Abdullah Mason for the vacant light-weight title. The 2 fighters have 20 days to place collectively a deal.

It’s a significant step up for Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs), who has been preventing on the home stage his total six-year profession. He’s ranked #1 with the WBO, however his resume is barren of contenders. There’s not one contender on Noakes’ resume.

WBO Orders Mason-Noakes Light-weight Title Combat

On paper, this can be a horrible mismatch in favor of Mason. This combat will make the WBO look unhealthy for having given the unprepared, restricted Noakes a #1 rating with out ever proving himself. As a corporation, you need to make practical decisions for rankings. Inserting Noakes at #1 is unnecessary.

The WBO clearly has its causes for giving Noakes a #1 rating, however the actuality is, he’s not on the extent of half of the opponents that Mason has fought up to now. As such, it’s a foregone conclusion that Abdullah (19-0, 17 KOs) will win and be the following WBO light-weight champion.

Followers wished the WBO to order Abdullah Mason to combat Edwin De Los Santos or Andy Cruz for the vacant 135-lb title, not Noakes. These two would have been much more worthy opponents for Mason to combat for the vacant title.

Is Mason Too Younger for Title?

There’s some concern that Mason, 21, is simply too younger to be preventing the 27-year-old Noakes and may wait. Some folks consider that even when Abdullah captures the vacant WBO title with a victory, he’s too younger to carry down the belt towards the wolves that shall be coming for him.

High Rank’s Mason Safety Problem

High Rank can’t shield Mason like they’ve been doing with their cautious matchmaking as soon as he’s champion. As soon as he owns the WBO title, there’s going to be a goal on his again, and the predators within the light-weight division shall be coming for him. Predictably, High Rank will keep away from fighters like Andy Cruz, Raymond Muratalla, Shakur Stevenson, and Gervonta Davis. Mason is simply too inexperienced to combat any of these 4 fighters.

The WBO title was made vacant after ex-champion Keyshawn Davis missed weight for his title protection towards De Los Santos final Friday. Davis got here in 4.3 lbs chubby, which some followers felt was an intentional miss on his half to both acquire an edge or keep away from the combat altogether. In the end, the bout was canceled after De Los Santos’ administration determined to not undergo with it.

The street to the WBO Light-weight Title begins. 🥊

#1 Sam Noakes and #2 Abdullah Mason have 20 days to succeed in a deal. Negotiations are formally underway.#WBO #LightweightDivision #NewEra pic.twitter.com/qnjoUt2gRi

— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) June 12, 2025