Sam Noakes defends European Lightweight title with eighth-round stoppage of Gianluca Ceglia at York Hall
Updated 06/09/2024 at 23:59 GMT+1
The 'Kent Golovkin' made sure of another impressive victory at York Hall as Gianluca Ceglia was forced to end the bout after the eighth round, after being hampered by some severe swelling above his right eye. The victory stands as Noakes' first successful defence of his European Lightweight title, as the Maidstone-based fighter looks to break into the world-title picture.
Highlights as Noakes stops Ceglia to defend European lightweight title
Video credit: TNT Sports
Sam Noakes successfully defended his EBU European Lightweight title for the first time with an imperious victory over Gianluca Ceglia, forcing a stoppage after the eighth round.
Noakes extended his undefeated record to 15-0, and had his opponent on the back foot throughout the affair - delivering his trademark blows to the body and wearing Ceglia down until he could not restart for the ninth round.
The 'Kent Golovkin' has now forced stoppages in 14 of his 15 bouts, with only his title victory against Yvan Mendy decided by points.
"It was a tougher fight than I thought it would be," Noakes said on TNT Sports. "Fights like this are really going to bring me on. It was a good learning fight.
"If the phone call comes and there's a world-title fight next week I'll take it.
"I've still got a lot to learn. We'll keep stepping up."
Ceglia began on the offensive, which seemingly benefited Noakes as he delivered his trademark blows to the body, with the Italian beginning to retreat at the end of the opening round.
The challenger was seemingly struggling with a poorly fitted mouthpiece, and the Maidstone-based titleholder looked to be seizing on his opponent's struggles, undoubtedly the more offensive with his attritional body blows.
The experienced Italian did well to weather the early storm when it looked as though an early stoppage could be a possibility. He grew into the bout, delivering some good jabs in round three and evading some sizeable attempted strikes by Noakes.
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Noakes often had his opponent against the ropes, but the Italian's tight guard made it hard for the champion to land his shots with their desired impact.
The "champion had to showcase patience, as the rounds drew on and an early stoppage went out of the picture.
Both held firm into the seventh round but more and more Noakes blows were delivered without reply, as Ceglia seemingly wore down.
The eighth round continued in the same vein with Ceglia deteriorating, and the Italian called time on the fight during the break after being hampered by a swelling above his right eye.
TNT Sports pundits Carl Frampton and Steve Bunce said that Noakes could have acted with more "urgency" to get the fight stopped sooner, with the Englishman in the ascendancy throughout the eight rounds.
"A little more urgency at times would have benefitted him," Frampton said. "It's like sometimes everything has to be perfect, rather than just put shots together."
Bunce added: "I didn't like Ceglia's body language in his sixth round...I think he could've got rid of him if he put a flurry. The ref might have jumped in."
There was great respect between the fighters as they convened after the stoppage, as Noakes' bid for world-title boxing strengthened with another strong showing at York Hall.
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