Claude Noel (boxer)


Claude Noel CM 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

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

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.
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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
41Loss31–10Graeme BrookeUD12 1984-11-02Festival Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaLost Commonwealth lightweight title
40Loss31–9Tsuyoshi HamadaKO4 1984-09-09Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
39Loss31–8Mario CussonUD10 1984-07-10Forum, Montreal, Canada
38Loss31–7René ArredondoTKO2 1984-05-17Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
37Win31–6Davidson AndehTKO7 1984-03-17Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoRetained Commonwealth lightweight title
36Win30–6Steve AssonPTS12 1983-12-02Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoRetained Commonwealth lightweight title
35Loss29–6Alexis ArgüelloTKO3 1983-04-24Showboat Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
34Loss29–5Howard Davis Jr.UD10 1982-11-12Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, U.S.
33Win29–4Barry MichaelMD15 1982-07-22Festival Hall, Melbourne, AustraliaWon Commonwealth lightweight title
32Win28–4Steve AssonPTS15 1982-05-14Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoRetained Trinidad and Tobago lightweight title
31Loss27–4Arturo FriasKO8 1981-12-05Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.Lost WBA lightweight title
30Win27–3Rodolfo GonzálezUD15 1981-09-12Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Won vacant WBA lightweight title
29Win26–3Roberto MadridTKO5 1981-07-24Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
28Win25–3Gaétan HartTKO3 1981-03-24Paul Sauvé Arena, Montreal, Canada
27Win24–3Johnny SummerhaysUD10 1980-11-08Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
26Win23–3Antonio CruzSD12 1980-05-17Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
25Win22–3Michael ReidPTS10 1980-03-28Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
24Win21–3Jerome ArtisUD10 1980-02-29Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
23Win20–3Francisco BecerraKO5 1980-01-18Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
22Loss19–3Ernesto EspañaKO13 1979-06-16Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto RicoFor vacant WBA lightweight title
21Win19–2Gaétan HartUD10 1979-03-30Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
20Win18–2Pedro Acosta NunezPTS12 1978-12-15Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
19Win17–2Augustin EstradaUD10 1978-11-07Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
18Win16–2Scotty ForemanKO2 1978-10-24Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
17Win15–2Warren MatthewsKO2 1978-08-08Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
16Win14–2Hilbert StevensonTKO3 1978-07-25Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
15Win13–2Frankie MoultrieKO2 1978-06-06Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, U.S.
14Win12–2Fitzroy GuisseppiKO9 1978-02-10Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoRetained Trinidad and Tobago lightweight title
13Win11–2Hector Julio MedinaKO10 1977-12-16Sparrow's Hideaway, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
12Win10–2Larry StantonPTS10 1977-10-07Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
11Win9–2Vinnie DeBarrosTKO4 1977-07-30Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
10Win8–2Rafael SolisPTS10 1977-06-03Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
9Loss7–2Lennox BlackmooreTKO10 1977-05-29Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
8Win7–1Easy Boy LakeKO4 1977-05-17Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands
7Loss6–1Lennox BlackmooreTKO10 1977-02-25Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
6Win6–0Francisco CruzKO3 1977-02-11Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
5Win5–0Fitzroy GuisseppiTKO10 1976-11-26Port of Spain, Trinidad and TobagoWon Trinidad and Tobago lightweight title
4Win4–0Selwyn FigarroTKO8 1976-09-20Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
3Win3–0Clive NicholsTKO6 1975-10-23Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
2Win2–0Michael BaptisteKO4 1975-06-16Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
1Win1–0Art de FreitasKO2 1973-11-13Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Death and legacy

Noel died on 21 May 2023, at the age of 74.
The Claude Noel Highway in Tobago was named for him, in recognition of his sporting achievements.