HUMBLE Sam Noakes is out to bring the lightweight world title back to his former roofing pals – but fears the shiny belt will get dirty on site.
The Maidstone man challenges American Abdullah Mason in Saudi Arabia – live on DAZN PPV .
Sam Noakes challenges for the WBO lightweight titleCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Noakes used to work on a roofing siteCredit: Refer to source
He is 17-0 with 15 brutal knockouts – climbing the rankings as one of Britain’s best and most powerful boxers.
There was once a time Noakes was instead scaling roofs before turning professional in 2019 and during the Covid pandemic.
But now Workaholic Noakes – – has left behind his freezing days on site.
He told SunSport in Riyadh: “I haven’t been up on the roof for a little while now. The beauty of it is we do enjoy training.
“Like work you’ll have a couple of days that are alright, but nine times out of ten you don’t wanna go.
“But training’s alright, even though it’s hard and has other challenges, I still would rather be doing what I’m doing.
“I mean, roofing wouldn’t have got me here. It’s a good craic with the boys and it ain’t too bad working in the sun.
“But I don’t like the weather we got back home, everyone was saying it was snowing at the minute. I don’t miss it on days like that.”
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Noakes still keeps in contact with his old colleagues and some even continue to sponsor him.
The down-to-earth 28-year-old hopes to bring back the WBO title to his pals – but will stop at bringing it onto the dusty roofing site.
He said: “That’s the plan. Well, down the office anyway. Probably not back on the site, I don’t wanna get it dirty!”
And while Noakes may no longer fetch the teas on site – he vows to never switch up even with a world championship around his waist.
He said: “I feel like my days of being a tea boy have long gone.
“But, it doesn’t change anything. It’s the same old. It don’t make no difference to who I am as a person it’s just a fight, isn’t it?
“It’s just a title at the end of the day and it’s just leading on to bigger and better things.”
Noakes – who has older brother and 11-0 English welterweight champ Sean in his corner – can barely believe his name is up on the bright boxing lights.
I feel like my days of being a tea boy have got long gone. “But, it doesn’t change anything. It’s the same old. It don’t make no difference to who I am as a person it’s just a fight, isn’t it?
Sam Noakes
He beamed: “When we got out of the car and you see all your face on the big TVs and things like that, you can’t not get excited for it.
“But I think we’re just sort of getting to the bit now where all the hard work’s done. I’m just looking forward to getting in there now.”
Noakes – an outsider of 3/1 against 19-0 Mason – has friends flying over to support – with some hoping he will line their pockets at the bookies.
He revealed: “I keep getting told every time I see a different person, they’re like, ‘Oh I put money on you, you gotta make sure you win!’
“But it’s good, they’re obviously all up for it. I’ve got quite a few of them coming out here as well.
Noakes celebrated his last win by entering a gruelling Hyrox competition – and makes no guarantees he will rest up even if he becomes our newest world champ.
He said: “I always tick over, that’s the thing, I do love training. It ain’t a chore for me. My little reset and rest is with the food.
“That’ll be rolling on to 2026 and then we’ll see the year out, have a little bit of downtime, and then straight back to it, another big year.”
Abdullah Mason facing off with Noakes 
