Turki Alalshikh announced today on X that Abdullah Mason will face Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight title in a “massive Riyadh Season” event later this year in November. That fight will be on the undercard.

Turki’s November card

• David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde – main event
• Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney – co-feature
• Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes

Fans are pleased with the card. The only issue they have is the order of the card. WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez’s fight against Yarde isn’t one that fans are excited about, as it appears to be a mismatch. People would rather have seen Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) fight a rematch with David Morrell than defend against the veteran Yarde (27-3, 24 KOs).

People are more interested in the clash between WBO welterweight champion Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) and Haney. That fight promises to be competitive as long as it lasts.

The former two-division world champion Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) will be out to prove a point after the way he was dumped on my fans after his performance last May at the Times Square event in New York City. He knows that he must fight hard to make fans forget how he fought against Jose Ramirez at that event.

Mason vs. Noakes Title Bout

#1  Abdullah Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) and #2 Sam Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs) will battle for the vacant WBO lightweight title that was stripped from champion Keyshawn Davis last June when he failed to make weight for a fight. The southpaw Mason, 21, will likely be the favorite against Noakes. It’s not a great fight, as Noakes has been fighting at the British level his entire six-year career.

A battle of undefeated fighters for the world title!

Ring ambassador Abdullah Mason will collide with Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight title, as part of the MASSIVE Riyadh Season event in November.🥊🔥 pic.twitter.com/NJsBpSNKfL

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 4, 2025