The reluctant contender: Sam Noakes is on the eve of the title fight he didn’t plan to chase

“I’m sitting at home and I’m thinking, ‘Mate, I’ve gotta spar later’, and then obviously I get in ‘ere and as soon as the bell goes you’re alright but the thought of it’s just long, innit? I don’t think about the fight so much when I’m in ‘ere, really. The only way I can really put it – you know when you feel like you got a long day ahead of you? You wake up in the morning and you’re like, ‘Babe, I got a long day today – work’s gonna be long’, and that’s how I feel about sparring, you know what I mean? I sit down on the settee and I’m thinking, ‘Ah, mate, I hope it goes well today’, do you know what I mean?