Sam Noakes will face a familiar heavyweight challenger in former WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk, a matchup that threatens to expose many of the same weaknesses that caused his first professional defeat.
Queensberry Promotions announced on Tuesday that Noakes (18‑1, 16 KOs) will meet Berinchyk (19‑1, 9 KOs) on the August 29 undercard in London, which will also feature headline bouts headlined by Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic.
On paper, the contest offers Noakes a chance to rebound from his November loss to Abdullah Mason. Berinchyk, now 38, has been idle since Keyshawn Davis stopped him in February 2025 to capture the WBO lightweight title. Nonetheless, Berinchyk’s fighting style remains a serious threat.
Mason previously demonstrated a viable method for defeating Noakes. After an initial exchange of punches, Mason altered his approach mid‑fight, favoring a defensive stance behind his jab, employing dynamic footwork, and refusing to stay in one spot. This tactical shift forced Noakes into a reactive role, making it difficult to close the distance or land his signature power shots. Consequently, Noakes absorbed a series of jabs and fell behind on the scorecards.
Beringchykov has built his career on movement, unconventional angles, and technical ringcraft rather than sheer power. While his age and the knockout loss to Davis raise questions about his remaining vigor, he does not need to be at his absolute best to unsettle Noakes if he can continue dictating the pace with his feet.
The responsibility now lies with Noakes to prove he has evolved since the Mason defeat. If he can improve his ability to pressure mobile opponents, his youth, size, and punching power should give him a decisive edge. Should those strides prove insufficient, Berinchyk’s experience and stylistic versatility could force Noakes into the same frustrating dynamic that highlighted his weaknesses less than a year ago.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist who has covered the sport since 2014, providing ringside reporting and technical analysis of major bouts. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments, and the details that shape high‑level competition.
