Sam Noakes’ trainer Alan Smith believes that the lightweight is ready for another world title fight after watching him return to the ring to stop Benito Sanchez Garcia in two rounds.
Sunday’s fight, at London’s York Hall, was Noakes’ first since the occasion of his first defeat, in November by Abdullah Mason for the vacant WBO title, and at the age of 28 and therefore at his physical peak, Smith is keen for Noakes to test himself at the highest level again before the conclusion of 2026.
Mexicos’s Garcia offered little like the resistance Noakes can expect in another world title fight, and BoxingScene regardless understands that a title eliminator will be the Englishman’s next move, but Smith told BoxingScene: “We needed a simple, easy run out, after such a brutal epic fight with Mason. It was a bit scrappy but showed he still has that spiteful side.
“I would have liked a bit more patience. But pretty boxing ain’t Sam. Sam can now go back to the level he was at and claw back to a world title challenge.”
Smith’s welterweight Henry Turner, 25, also won, doing so inside a round against Estonia’s Mark Andrejev, and Smith said: “Henry’s performance was where we expected at the new weight against, again, a kid to give him rounds.
“Henry has a big fight in July and I feel he will show how good he really is. The [British and Commonwealth junior welterweight title defeat by] Jack Rafferty taught both of us a lot.”
Five days earlier the 30-year-old Skye Nicolson, who trains out of Smith’s gym under Eddie Lam, had beaten her fellow Australian Mariah Turner via unanimous decision to retain her WBC interim junior featherweight title, and Smith said: “The gym is buzzing. We stayed small with seven fighters; all grade-A kids. All have ability but sometimes luck is required.
“It’s a great time and should see a few champions roll out the gym by the end of 2026.”
