Noel bids for boxing title

Noel slipped into the world rankings when he defeated another Panamanian Guillermo Jones in neighbouring Venezuela in 1997.

The Tobagonian’s victory over Jones came in just the second round of the WBA encounter. However he could not maintain his superiority in a rematch soon after.

This time around he will do battle in the light heavyweight division against a fighter who has an impressive record of 31 fights, 24 knock-outs and seven losses.

Noel has a record of 27 fights, 17 knock-outs and eight losses and is confident of the victory in a couple days.

The bout will be the first fight in the light heavyweight division for both boxers. Ironically the scrap will also be Noel’s first match-up since his return to boxing after close to a year.

In his last encounter Noel got the better of Troy Lewis of Guyana in a super middleweight division. Only recently Mendoza fell to a surprising defeat by Luis Pineda for the FEDELATIN cruiserweight title.

Mendoza also suffered a defeat at the hands of another Trinidadian — Fitzroy "Whip" Vanderpool in the super middleweight division.

Now both boxers are eyeing the title in the WBA division— one that might be the last fight for both fighters.

Dr Calvin Inalsingh, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board (TTBA) will be the supervisor of the main bout on the card, an Interim Super Bantamweight title fight between Yober Ortega of Venezuela and Panama’s Celestino Caballero.

Inalsingh, who is also a WBA Director and president of the Fedecaribe has pledged his support for the rugged Noel. The feature fight however will be a 122- pound contest and will follow the Noel and Mendoza encounter on Saturday.

Claude Noel, who won the WBA lightweight title in 1981, will be the cornerman for his nephew. Both Noels (David and Claude) left last Saturday for Panama.