Sam Noakes is confident his first professional defeat will only lead to bigger and better opportunities.

Noakes was beaten on points by rising American star Abdullah Mason last month as the 21-year-old was crowned lightweight champion - and the youngest male world champion on the planet. Noakes, who was beaten by unanimous decision, suffered a nasty cut over his eye in the third round after a head clash.

And he believes that injury made his night even harder - but took nothing away from his young opponent.

"It was a good fight, it's nice to have my face back to normal to be honest, it was a bit battered and bruised afterwards, but that's what you expect after 12 hard rounds," he told Mirror Fighting. "He's a good fighter and I've not seen any negative comments about the fight.

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"It'll put me in good stead to push on for another world title shot next year and I'm still in the mix. I thought that when I got my first loss it would feel like the end of the world but it doesn't. It's not that I'm not bothered, I hate losing, but I do feel like he was just better on the night. He nicked it, maybe if the cut didn't happen it might have been different,.

"But I gave it everything I had and couldn't have done any more. Fair play to him, he can seriously fight. If you just miss out in a close fight for a world title, as annoying as it is, it's not the end of the world. It's not as if you've lost in a Southern Area title fight on the way up, you're fighting at the pinnacle of the sport with future greats.

"Coming out and losing in good fashion, if that makes sense, there were no negatives. It wasn't a boring fight, it was touch and go. It was entertaining at the end of the day and that's the business we're in. I felt liken he was going to ged the nod at the end; I was covered in blood! I knew it was close but i thought he would get the win."