New British champion Sam Noakes could be fighting for a world title this time next year.

That’s the target the Maidstone boxer and manager Francis Warren are working towards after a brilliant performance on Saturday night.

Noakes, 26, stopped fellow unbeaten boxer Lewis Sylvester in the fourth round of their bout at the Copper Box Arena in London.

He put his man down twice in the third before another knockdown in round four saw the towel come in from the Yorkshireman’s corner.

Victory saw Noakes add the British and WBO International lightweight titles to his Commonwealth and WBC International Silver belts.

“It’s hard work carrying them all,” joked Noakes.

“They’re in my living room at the minute.

“I don’t know what my mum wants to do with them - she’s the boss in here. She’ll tell me where they’re going.”

The British crown, and with it the historic Lonsdale Belt, is a dream come true for Noakes, while the WBO title will open doors.

It’s no wonder Warren said the world was Noakes’ oyster immediately after the fight, although the former Westree amateur is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“I’m just going to make a few defences,” said Noakes.

“That WBO International, if I defend that a few times that puts me in a really good position for a world title shot maybe in 12 months, so that’s where we’re looking to go and we’ll see how that works out.

“That’s a serious belt, that one. It’s mental, isn’t it, but the thing is I just feel the same as when I first turned over pro.

“I don’t feel any different. You do see it going to people’s heads but I don’t think that’s going to happen to me. I’ve got too many good people around me who’d tell me to sort myself out.”

Noakes extended his perfect stoppage record to 13-0 after ending Sylvester’s challenge.

He was in a different class to his brave opponent, earning universal praise from commentators and pundits after a superb display.

Something had to give in a battle of two fighters boasting 100% winning records - and it was very much Noakes’ night.

“It went well, didn’t it?” he said.

“It was a big week with all the emotion and the adrenaline and the press conference and the weigh-in, and all that.

“There’s loads that goes on, all the interviews and everything, and making the weight never gets any easier.

“It didn’t help that the ring’s bigger than it normally is and he’s quite good on his feet.

“I knew he’d be tricky until he slowed down but I got hold of him in the end and it didn’t take that long, to be honest.

“Although it might look like it was easy, he wasn’t a bad fighter.

“He earned his spot. He’s boxed some good kids as well.

“I was well up for that fight, I was well pumped for it, it’s the one that meant the most to me.

“Performance-wise, you box what’s in front of you so I just wanted to get it done and win the belts.

“I thought he did well to get up after that first body shot.

“When he got to nine I thought I might have got him here but he got up and lasted the round.

“He did well there, he showed a lot of heart.

“But I knew once that happened it was a matter of time.

“You can just tell when you’ve got someone and I wasn’t waiting about after that. I just wanted to get it done.”

There was big respect between the boxers in the build-up to the fight and again afterwards.

The size of the contest spoke for itself - with no need for trash talk.

“He was a lovely fella,” said Noakes.

“He was always all right. I think that’s how it should be anyway on the build-up to fights. You shouldn’t have to be at each other.

“That fight sold well anyway without having to do all that.

“We had a good laugh at the press conference. It’s nice when they’re respectful like that.

“You can tell when that other stuff is false and when it isn’t.

“When it’s genuine it probably does sell tickets; when it’s false it’s all just b******s, isn’t it?

“It comes down to different people’s personalities.”

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Noakes, cheered on by hundreds of travelling fans from the county town, visited his old amateur club on Monday.

By Tuesday, he was back in the gym training.

“It’s got to be done,” he said. “I’ve got nothing else to do, otherwise I’m sitting about stewing.

“The better I do, the more I want to do if that makes sense. It feeds the flame more and gives me that bit of drive so I don’t want to stop pushing now.”

Noakes would like to thank his sponsors and everyone who travelled to London for their support.

“It’s the start of a big year,” he added.