Lightweight phenom Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) continues his march to a world title 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 Position)
If Mason can put in a good performance, he could steal the show in the main event from home fighter Shakur Stevenson defending his WBC lightweight title against Artem Harutyunyan.
With Mason's fighting style, it won't be difficult for him to outplay the defensive minded Shakur. Top Rank didn't do Shakur any favors by putting the talented Abdullah Mason on his undercard because it would give the fans a fighter to compare him to, and if he gets a small shot, he could lose fans.
Mason, 20, has been busy this year fighting 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 17 in Quebec City.
Compared to fighters who only compete annually, 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 many fighters lack. They make money and then want to kick back and enjoy themselves.
Mason weighed in at 134.8 lbs at Friday's weigh-in. Lebron came in at 135.8 lbs. Tonight's event will air on ESPN and ESPN+, beginning at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT)
“He is the most experienced person I have ever fought until now. He has as many arrows as I do,” said Abdullah Mason on the Goforit YouTube channel about his eight-round opponent on Saturday night, Luis Lebron.
“We will not ignore him. He's coming to fight and he's going to let go of his hands. We will take our time and do what we have to do. It's a lot of fun,” said Mason when asked if it was fun to fight against a guy with a lot of experience.
Lebron is hoping to give Mason some rounds before he folds because most of the guys he fights don't make it out of the first rounds. Mason needs Top Rank to match him with other fighters, such as Keyshawn Davis and Raymond Murtalla.
“That will make for a good fight. Two fighters who love to fight. He let go of his hands, and I let go of mine. He doesn't back down,” said Mason. “So, we are coming to make a show. I feel like I'm ready to take on anyone with the right boot camp.
“We have a busy year this year. So, hopefully, next year, I will be ready for the world championship. I am free to be so busy. If I wasn't comfortable I wouldn't have done 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 won't be right against another smaller guy.
“I'm just growing and staying focused. I have my brother and father in my corner, it's easy. That's the goal: to be a world champion,” said Mason.
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