Coach Kenny Ellis Promotes Abdullah Mason #2 At 135, Snubs Established Stars
Gervonta Davis' assistant coach, Kenny Ellis, ranked his top 10 lightweights, surprisingly ranking prospect Abdullah Mason over Shakur Stevenson at #2.
Ellis' bias?
Naturally, Kenny ranks Tank Davis #1, but it's hard to believe that Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) is ahead of WBC 135-lb champion Shakur and IBF champion Vasily Lomachenko.
Mason will be a major threat to Shakur because of his strength, but he needs to gain experience to be ranked above the three-division world champion.
Kenny's placement of Shakur and Lomachenko is believed to suggest that Mason may have a grudge against them. They are the main threats to Tank Davis in the lightweight division, as well as William Zepeda, Kenny who is also ranked under Abdullah Mason.
Mason, 20, has looked impressive in his short three-year professional career, but he still has to contend with an opponent. Much is unknown about Mason and his future.
To rank him above two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-division world champion Lomachenko is a no-brainer. Ellis' roster will make sense if Mason beats out top-level competition.
Coach Kenny Ellis' Top Ten 135-lb rankings
- Gervonta Davis
- Abdullah Mason
- Shakur Stevenson
- Vasily Lomachenko
- Frank Martin
- Andy Cruz
- Floyd Schofield
- Keyshawn Davis
- William Zepeda
- Curmel Moton
Protecting a Tank Image?
Frank Martin doesn't make the top ten, especially over a dangerous artist like William Zepeda. Zepeda will destroy Frank Martin, as well as Keyshawn Davis and Curmel Moton. Martin was knocked out in the eighth round by Tank Davis on June 15 and looked awful.
Last year, Martin needed a second-round rally to win a 12-round decision against Artem Harutyunyan. If you hit Harutyunyan low, that's a red flag that you're not good.
Kenny putting Martin at #5 will make Tank Davis look better by beating him. The fans would roast Tank for fighting him if he was ranked where he should be outside of the top 10. He fought little opposition throughout his career and turned away assassins.
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