The WBO has officially ordered Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes to contest the vacant WBO lightweight title.
Unbeaten contenders Mason, 21, and Noakes, 27, occupy the No. 1 and No. 2 positions in the governing body’s rankings. The pair have 20 days to reach a deal, or purse bids will be called. Mason, Uncrowned’s runner-up for 2024 Prospect of the Year, is represented by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, while Noakes is with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
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The development comes as a result of Keyshawn Davis being stripped of his WBO title Friday after he missed weight by over 4 pounds for his title defense against Edwin De Los Santos. The bout was subsequently canceled just 24 hours before it was scheduled to take place, and coincidentally it was Mason who was upgraded to the headliner for the event.
Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) stopped Jeremia Nakathila at the beginning of Round 5 in their ESPN-televised main event bout Saturday in Norfolk. Mason voiced his desire to fight for a world title immediately afterward.
Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) last fought in May, when he knocked out Patrik Balaz in three rounds in a tune-up bout. The Brit was planning a fight with Ireland’s Jono Carroll in August, sources close to the situation told Uncrowned. But after Davis missed weight and it was apparent that Noakes would be in line for a title shot, the bout with Carroll was scrapped.
On Tuesday evening, boxing financier Turki Alalshikh named Mason among a list of fighters he wanted to feature on the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford card, which is scheduled for Sept. 13 and is to be streamed live on Netflix. Mason’s maiden title shot against Noakes carries a real possibility of landing on the aforementioned show.
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