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Claude Noel (boxer)

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Claude Noel
Born(1948-07-25)25 July 1948
Roxborough,
Trinidad and Tobago
Died21 May 2023(2023-05-21) (aged 74)
San Juan–Laventille,
Trinidad and Tobago
Statistics
Weight(s)Lightweight
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights41
Wins31
Wins by KO18
Losses10

Claude Noel CM (25 July 1948 – 21 May 2023) was a Tobagonian professional boxer. During his career, which spanned from 1973 to 1984, Noel held the WBA lightweight title and the Commonwealth Lightweight title.

Early life

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Born on 25 July 1948 in Roxborough, Tobago to Thelma Fraser and Gabriel "Alfred" Noel. In his early teenage life, Noel began selling mangoes and other tropical fruits before branching off to boxing in 1973.

Professional career

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Noel began his professional career on 13 November 1973, fighting in Port-of-Spain, he beat Art de Freitas by second round knockout. After a run of four victories Noel successfully challenged for his first title, the Trinidad & Tobago Lightweight title. The fight, scheduled for fifteen rounds, was stopped in the tenth with Noel's opponent, Fitzroy Guisseppi, unable to continue.

On 16 June 1979, Noel challenged for a version of the world title for the first time. Prior to this fight Noel had built up a record of nineteen wins and just two losses, both against Lennox Blackmoore via tenth round technical knockout. Noel and his opponent, the Venezuelan Ernesto Espana, were fighting for the WBA title recently vacated by Roberto Durán. The fight started badly for Noel as Espana scored a first round knock down. Although he was able to recover, he was knocked down once again in the ninth round and he was unable to beat the referee's count for the third knockdown, which ended the fight in the thirteenth.

Two years later on 12 September 1981, Noel once again challenged for the WBA title, this time successfully. The opponent for the fight, which took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was the Mexican boxer Rodolfo González. Noel started the fight well but had to withstand a strong finish by the Mexican. The bout went the distance and the scores were read out as: 145-140, 145-141 and 144-141, all in favour of Noel.[1]

Noel's first defence of his title was on 5 December 1981 against the American challenger, and late replacement, Arturo Frias. Frias dominated the fight, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada, before knocking Noel out in the eighth round.

Although Noel never fought for a world title again, he was able to win the Commonwealth Lightweight title and defend it twice. Noel fought ten more times after his final world title fight, losing six, most notably to the renowned Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello, when he suffered a horrid body injury during round three due to a body punch. Noel's final fight took place on 2 November 1984, and he lost the fight, and his Commonwealth title, to Graeme Brooke by a unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

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41 fights 31 wins 10 losses
By knockout 18 7
By decision 13 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
41 Loss 31–10 Graeme Brooke UD 12 (12) 1984-11-02 Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia Lost Commonwealth lightweight title
40 Loss 31–9 Tsuyoshi Hamada KO 4 (10) 1984-09-09 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
39 Loss 31–8 Mario Cusson UD 10 (10) 1984-07-10 Forum, Montreal, Canada
38 Loss 31–7 René Arredondo TKO 2 (10) 1984-05-17 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
37 Win 31–6 Davidson Andeh TKO 7 (12) 1984-03-17 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Retained Commonwealth lightweight title
36 Win 30–6 Steve Asson PTS 12 (12) 1983-12-02 Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Retained Commonwealth lightweight title
35 Loss 29–6 Alexis Argüello TKO 3 (10) 1983-04-24 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34 Loss 29–5 Howard Davis Jr. UD 10 (10) 1982-11-12 Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, U.S.
33 Win 29–4 Barry Michael MD 15 (15) 1982-07-22 Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia Won Commonwealth lightweight title
32 Win 28–4 Steve Asson PTS 15 (15) 1982-05-14 Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Retained Trinidad and Tobago lightweight title
31 Loss 27–4 Arturo Frias KO 8 (15) 1981-12-05 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Lost WBA lightweight title
30 Win 27–3 Rodolfo González UD 15 (15) 1981-09-12 Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Won vacant WBA lightweight title
29 Win 26–3 Roberto Madrid TKO 5 (10) 1981-07-24 Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
28 Win 25–3 Gaétan Hart TKO 3 (10) 1981-03-24 Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Canada
27 Win 24–3 Johnny Summerhays UD 10 (10) 1980-11-08 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
26 Win 23–3 Antonio Cruz SD 12 (12) 1980-05-17 Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
25 Win 22–3 Michael Reid PTS 10 (10) 1980-03-28 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
24 Win 21–3 Jerome Artis UD 10 (10) 1980-02-29 Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
23 Win 20–3 Francisco Becerra KO 5 (?) 1980-01-18 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
22 Loss 19–3 Ernesto España KO 13 (15) 1979-06-16 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico For vacant WBA lightweight title
21 Win 19–2 Gaétan Hart UD 10 (10) 1979-03-30 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
20 Win 18–2 Pedro Acosta Nunez PTS 12 (12) 1978-12-15 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
19 Win 17–2 Augustin Estrada UD 10 (10) 1978-11-07 Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
18 Win 16–2 Scotty Foreman KO 2 (10) 1978-10-24 Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
17 Win 15–2 Warren Matthews KO 2 (10) 1978-08-08 Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
16 Win 14–2 Hilbert Stevenson TKO 3 (10) 1978-07-25 Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
15 Win 13–2 Frankie Moultrie KO 2 (10) 1978-06-06 Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
14 Win 12–2 Fitzroy Guisseppi KO 9 (15) 1978-02-10 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Retained Trinidad and Tobago lightweight title
13 Win 11–2 Hector Julio Medina KO 10 (10) 1977-12-16 Sparrow's Hideaway, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
12 Win 10–2 Larry Stanton PTS 10 (10) 1977-10-07 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
11 Win 9–2 Vinnie DeBarros TKO 4 (?) 1977-07-30 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
10 Win 8–2 Rafael Solis PTS 10 (10) 1977-06-03 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
9 Loss 7–2 Lennox Blackmoore TKO 10 (?) 1977-05-29 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
8 Win 7–1 Easy Boy Lake KO 4 (?) 1977-05-17 Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands
7 Loss 6–1 Lennox Blackmoore TKO 10 (?) 1977-02-25 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
6 Win 6–0 Francisco Cruz KO 3 (?) 1977-02-11 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
5 Win 5–0 Fitzroy Guisseppi TKO 10 (15) 1976-11-26 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Won Trinidad and Tobago lightweight title
4 Win 4–0 Selwyn Figarro TKO 8 (?) 1976-09-20 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
3 Win 3–0 Clive Nichols TKO 6 (8) 1975-10-23 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
2 Win 2–0 Michael Baptiste KO 4 (?) 1975-06-16 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
1 Win 1–0 Art de Freitas KO 2 (?) 1973-11-13 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Death and legacy

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Noel died on 21 May 2023, at the age of 74.[2]

The Claude Noel Highway in Tobago was named for him, in recognition of his sporting achievements.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Noel Takes Lightweight Title". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  2. ^ "Former world champion Claude Noel dies". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Fitzroy Guisseppi
Trinidad and Tobago
lightweight champion

November 26, 1976 – November 2, 1984
Retired
Vacant
Title next held by
Alric Johnson
Preceded by Commonwealth
lightweight champion

July 22, 1982 – November 2, 1984
Vacant
Title next held by
Graeme Brooke
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Sean O'Grady
WBA lightweight champion
September 12, 1981 – December 5, 1981
Succeeded by