Boxer Sam Noakes enhanced his growing reputation with a devastating first-round victory.

The Maidstone lightweight's reward is a spot on a big show at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena in April as promoter Frank Warren continues to push his new kid on the block.

Opponent Des Newton had never been stopped before facing Noakes at York Hall on Saturday night.

But he was floored twice and the referee called a halt at the end of the opening round as Noakes took his chance to impress on live TV.

Noakes, who has won all three of his professional bouts by stoppage, said: “We thought it was going to be a tough fight as he’d never been stopped.

“I wasn’t really going in for the first-round knockout but I tagged him with a left hook early and saw his legs go a little bit.

“I saw in his face he wasn’t happy with it and I thought I’d turn up the pace a little bit.

“I knew he was durable but what I bring to the table is not so much that I’m an unreal puncher, but I’ve just got a real high work rate and it’s different to how other pros fight.

“I thought he was going to carry on but I knew I’d have got him out in the second anyway.

“Another factor is boxing with 8oz gloves in the pros. It’s not so much if their chin can take it, it’s their face.

“If you see the state of his face after one round, you can imagine what it would have been like after six.

“Those gloves are doing me big favours.”

The contest was shown on BT Sport and pundits including John Fury – world heavyweight champion Tyson’s dad – liked what they saw.

“It was exactly what my career needed, a performance like that, live on BT Sport,” said Noakes. “I got some really good feedback from John Fury.

“He was saying Sam Noakes is what boxing needs, he’s built well, good-looking and hard-hitting.

“It’s just nice to hear that coming out his mouth.

“It’s crazy watching yourself back on telly and hearing all those famous names talking about you and saying good things. I’ve been buzzing ever since.

“There are things I need to work on, definitely, but it’s surreal, really. In my head I’m still just little Sam.”

Noakes followed appearances at the Royal Albert Hall and Copper Box by chalking off another famous venue in York Hall.

His fourth fight takes him to the 02 on Saturday, April 11, a show headlined by Daniel Dubois’ British heavyweight title defence against fellow unbeaten man Joe Joyce.

Noakes said: “To be fair, I haven’t done bad with the venues and now I’ll be ticking off the 02, which is mental, but it shows what happens when you get signed with the good promoters.

“As it stands, 2020 is going to be a very big year.”

Fellow Maidstone boxer Dennis McCann was taken the distance for just the second time at York Hall.

The highly-rated bantamweight beat Pablo Narvaez on points to extend his perfect pro record to 6-0.

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