Lightweight phenom Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) continues his march to a world title shot with his eight-round fight tonight against Luis Lebron (20-5-1, 13 KOs) at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
(Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
If Mason can perform an impressive performance, he could steal the show from the main event from hometown fighter Shakur Stevenson in the title defense of his WBC lightweight belt against Artem Harutyunyan.
With Mason’s fighting style, it won’t be difficult for him to outshine the defensive-minded Shakur. Top Rank did Shakur no favors by putting the talented Abdullah Mason on his undercard because it’ll give the fans a fighter to compare to him, and if he comes up short of the young gun, he could lose fans.
Mason, 20, is staying busy this year to fight five times. His match tonight against the experienced Lebron will be his third fight in 2024, and he has a fourth fight scheduled for August 17th in Quebec City.
Compared to fighters who only compete once a year, Abdullah Mason is on another level, but it’s the best way to become a star while improving at the same time. It takes ambition, which is missing with many fighters. They make money and then want to kick back and enjoy it.
Mason weighed in at 134.8 lbs at Friday’s weigh-in. Lebron came in at 135.8 lbs. Tonight’s event will be shown on ESPN and ESPN+, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT)
“He’s the most seasoned person I’ve fought thus far. He has as many knockouts as I have fights,” said Abdullah Mason on the Goforit YouTube channel about his opponent for his eight-round Saturday night, Luis Lebron.
“We’re not going to overlook him. He’s coming to fight and is going to let his hands go. We’re going to take our time and do what we got to do. Very exciting,” said Mason when asked if it was interesting to fight a guy with a lot of experience.
Lebron will hopefully give Mason some rounds before he folds up because many of the guys he’s fighting aren’t making it out of the early rounds. Mason needs Top Rank to match him against some of their other fighters, like Keyshawn Davis and Raymond Murtalla.
“That will make for an exciting fight. Two fighters that like to fight. He lets his hands go, and I let my hands go. He’s not backing down,” said Mason. “So, we’re coming to put on a show. I feel like I’m ready to take anyone on with the right training camp.
“We’re having a busy year this year. So, hopefully, next year, I’ll be ready for a world championship. I’m comfortable being that busy. If I wasn’t comfortable, I wouldn’t be doing it,” said Mason about fighting five times in 2024.
If Mason is going to fight for a world title in 2025, his next fight in August will need to be a step-up opponent because he’s not going to be ready if he’s matched against another lesser guy.
“I’m just growing and staying focused. With my brother and my father in my corner, it’s easy. That’s the goal: being a world champion,” said Mason.
Read the full article here
