4th: @SamNoakes3 I’m giving a 4th spot for this category because this fighter just simply needs a mention for his year. He was more active than most also. Four fights, four wins. Sam Noakes started his year off in February at the Copperbox against the undefeated 13-0 Lewis Sylvester. Sam had told me that he didn’t expect an early night because Lewis was a good mover and he expected him to use his feet to stay away from Noakes’ shots until he ran out of steam. Noakes ended up getting to Sylvester in the 4th and forcing a stoppage, claiming the British title at the same time. Just two months later, Noakes was back out again. This time at the classic York Hall. Noakes stepped in with the vastly experienced and super-duper-tough, Yvan Mendy. Mendy had already taken part in 55 fights as a pro. Almost four times the amount of fights that Noakes had. Noakes went into the fight with a 100% knockout percentage. The fight was for the vacant EBU European title. Mendy had never been stopped. Someone was going to experience something for the very first time in a pro ring. Either Noakes would finally hear the final bell to a fight, or Mendy wouldn’t! It turned out that actually, both men experienced something for the first time in that ring back in April. Sam Noakes went twelve rounds for the first time ever and Yvan Mendy lost every single round of a fight for the first time ever. Welcome to the European level Sam! Following the Mendy win, Sam boxed again at York Hall. He boxed Italy’s Gianluca Ceglia who was much tougher than expected actually. The fight went into the 8th round when his corner decided enough was enough, The Italian earned his paycheck twice over that night! Noakes then finished his year by stepping in the ring with the very experienced fellow Brit, Ryan Walsh. The fight went twelve rounds at the Wembley arena. Ryan took a hell of a hiding. He was bloodied and beaten but showed balls the size of Wembley’s arch. He did not stop trying. Noakes, who some critics felt was just this “big puncher” actually showed so much more to his game in the Walsh fight. He showed patience, he was controlled, he listened to his corner, he demonstrated a fantastic jab and he seemed to comfortably do the full twelve rounds at a good pace. Even though he didn’t get the knockout, he showed so much more in that fight than he’d showed in countless previous fights. It turns out that he is MUCH more well-rounded than anyone gave him credit for being. He almost had a world title shot before Christmas. I’m sure it’ll happen for him in 2025 and you’d be crazy to bet against him winning one. A top quality fighter and an even better gentleman.