Sam Noakes will face former WBO champion Denys Berinchyk on August 29 in a critical test of his development. The matchup forces Noakes to solve the same style of mobile boxing that led to his first professional loss against Abdullah Mason last year.
The fight, scheduled for the undercard of Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic in London, presents a clear challenge for Noakes (18-1, 16 KOs). Abdullah Mason provided a blueprint for beating the power-puncher last November. After testing Noakes early, Mason adjusted his strategy and began boxing from the outside. He used constant movement and a sharp jab, refusing to give Noakes a stationary target. The change left Noakes chasing, unable to cut off the ring or land the heavy shots that define his style. He walked into repeated jabs and was thoroughly out-boxed down the stretch.
Denys Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) is a fighter built on the same principles. His career has been defined by ring craft, awkward angles, and footwork rather than overwhelming power. While questions about his condition are valid—he is 38 and was stopped by Keyshawn Davis in his last outing—he does not need to be at his peak to cause problems. If Berinchyk can still control the distance with his feet, he can force Noakes into the same kind of frustrating fight that previously exposed him.
This is a prove-it moment for Noakes. The burden falls entirely on him to show he has developed the tools to pressure a skilled, mobile opponent. If he has improved his footwork and learned how to close distance effectively, his advantages in youth, size, and power should be enough to secure a victory and get his career back on track. If he has not, Berinchyk has the experience and the specific style to hand him a second, damaging defeat that confirms a major flaw in his game.
