Noakes drives a couple of lefts into the body of Mason and earns back some respect. He follows with some good work to the head.

They lean in close and Noakes sneaks through an uppercut.

Oh wow. They are both swinging and both landing. What a sight.

Noakes ends the round on top.

Image source, Queensberry

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Noakes is left with a problem here. He has to go for it, but going for it plays into Mason's hands.

Mason bites down on the gumshield and comes forward with one, two, three right hands.

Noakes struggles to find the target and his output has dropped a little. It has been all-action so maybe he's just taking a quick breather.

I've got that as the clearest round for Mason yet.

Some very tight rounds though. This could be 3-3 as we go into second half of the fight.

Image source, Queensberry

Stacey Copeland
Retired boxer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

What a fight this is! For Mason, he has to keep it at mid to long range. When Noakes stays on him, he's causing Mason all sorts of problems.

It's ebbing and flowing. Mason looks for an uppercut and Noakes drops straight down into it.

Noakes rocks Mason's head back with straight right. Great work.

Mason ends the round on top as he throws a flurry of punches.

So entertaining.

I don't think we've seen the last of head clashes. When they close the distance both fighters are leaning forward and touching foreheads.

Noakes goes back to the body and that could be key in this fight to slow Mason down.

The Briton catches Mason with a stiff jab and he stumbles but looks OK and comes back with a combination.

Another back-and-forth round. Hard to score. The last three have all been tight.

Image source, Queensberry

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

When Noakes gets close, Mason is uncomfortable. That's when Noakes is successful.

Thanks Shahzaman. Good to have you with us.

At this rate I can't see it going 12 rounds.

It's turning into a real scrap now.

They meet in the middle and both start to unload.

Mason complains that Noakes is using the head.

They both return to their corners and the cut men have some serious work to do.

Image source, Queensberry

Noakes is deemed OK to continue.

Replays show the cut came from a clash of heads rather than Mason's left hand. It looks like Mason is cut on the forehead.

Some really clean technical boxing on show. This is a fun watch.

Mason lands the best shot of the fight, catching Noakes with a beautiful left and the Briton is cut below the eye.

Ah. The referee has stopped it for Noakes to get checked by the doctor.

Mason comes back fighting at the start of the second round. The American looks the lighter of the two on the feet and forces through a straight right to the top of Noakes' head.

Noakes enjoys some success in the corner but Mason dodges a couple of shots in that combination.

1-1 for me.

Stacey Copeland
Retired boxer on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Decent first round for Noakes. You could see Mason making the slight adjustments and starting to figure him out and find his range.

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We are kicking things off on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra tonight where Sam Noakes is fighting for his maiden world title.

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Great start from Noakes as he invests some time to the body of Mason.

Noakes looks to have Mason in a bit of trouble in the corner before they circle away.

Just as Mason wises up to the body shots, Noakes comes over the top with a heavy right to the head.

I've got that round comfortably going to the Briton.

Image source, Getty Images

By the way, I forgot to mention Abdullah Mason is only 21.

Some achievement to be in a world title fight at that age.

Even if he comes up short against 28-year-old Sam Noakes then he'll be back.

A touch of gloves and off we go...