SAM NOAKES defended his European lightweight title successfully when Gianluca Ceglia withdrew after eight rounds.
Ceglia did not pose much of a threat to the Maidstone fighter, who remains undefeated at 15-0 with 14 wins by knockout.
Throughout the fight at York Hall, Noakes dominated, landing shots to the head and body while Ceglia mostly defended and occasionally threw punches of his own.
A powerful right hand from Noakes in the sixth round staggered Ceglia, but the champion was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
Noakes controlled the fight, with Ceglia showing signs of fatigue as his face began to show signs of damage. At the end of round eight, Ceglia indicated a problem with his face to his trainer, leading to the referee calling off the fight.
Reflecting on the fight, Noakes said, “His experience was evident. He was tougher than I expected, but he couldn’t handle my jabs. It was a valuable learning experience for me as I continue to improve with each fight.”
Trainer Alan Smith added, “Each fight brings us closer to the world title, and Sam continues to learn and grow with each opportunity.”
Manager Francis Warren mentioned, “While there are names we would like to pursue, we are patient in waiting for the right opportunity. Denys Berinchyk holds the WBO world title, and that could be a natural next step when the time is right.”