T&T former national boxer David Noel, 56, passed away yesterday at the Scarborough General Hospital after a long illness. Jomo Pitt, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Division Assemblyman, who is the Secretary of Sport and Youth Affairs extended sincere condolences to the family of Noel on his untimely passing.
He said Noel, who celebrated his 56th birthday on April 3, was a coach with the Department of Sport for several years and has played a role in the development of young Tobagonians over the years and he was an esteemed member of the boxing fraternity.
“Our prayers are with the family,” Pitt said. “David Noel was part of the Sport and Youth Affairs family and has been ill for a long time. We would like to express our deepest sympathies to his wife and daughter, who has been at his side.”
Boxing Biography
On May 2, 1980, debuting for Trinidad and Tobago at the age of 19, David Noel fought in the middleweight division and was up against Ivor Simmons. Noel won the match by technical knockout (TKO) in the sixth round.
He was unstoppable in his first year obtaining six wins from six fights. Over the years David performed exceedingly well by securing a professional record of 43 bouts, 29 wins, 13 losses and one draw.
In 1981, Noel fought less fights than the previous year, but inevitably with the same results. The 20-year-old was still unbeaten. Although he was undefeated, his record was not perfect. On April 10, seven days after his birthday, he fought Jean-Yves Piperol of France, and held him to a draw. It was the only draw of his boxing career.
On January 29, 1982, Noel fought for his first title belt. His opponent was Eddie Marcelle and on the line was the T&T Super-welterweight title. Noel won by a technical knockout (TKO) in the 11th round. Later in that same year he defeated two other opponents, taking his tally for the year to three out of three victories.
On August 19, 1983, David fought for his second title, the WBA Fedelatin Super-welterweight title against Patrico Diaz of Argentina. He lost in the 12th round and missed out on the opportunity of having a second belt. This was not a good year for him as he fought three fights and only won one.
But Noel bounced back fitter, stronger, healthier and more persistent for the period 1984-1987. He was clearly dominant as he took on 14 fights, conquering 11 of his opponents and only suffering three defeats.
On September 2, 1988, he fought the Jamaican, Anthony Logan, for the WBC Continental Americas Middleweight title, at Mucurapo, Trinidad and Tobago. He won the fight in the 12th round. In the same year on December 10, he took on the Englishman, Nigel Bean, for the Commonwealth Middleweight title, at Crystal Palace, London. He lost by a technical knockout (TKO) in the first round.
Noel was inactive for a short while but he returned in 1991 fully rested and won his third belt, the WBC FECARBOX Middleweight title against Wayne Harris in Port-of-Spain, T&T.
He was again inactive for the period 1992-1995. In 1996 he returned to action, winning his two fights that year. The next year saw him fighting three times; losing the first fight to Ken Sharpe on 30th April, winning the second against Guillermo Jones, a Venezuelan, for the WBA Fedelatin super-welterweight title on September 27 and losing the return bout on November 29.