Abdullah Mason (16-0, 14 KOs) needed to overcome adversity final Friday evening, struggling two first-round knockdowns earlier than coming again to knock out the ability puncher Yohan Vasquez (26-6, 21 KOs) within the second spherical final Friday evening on the Scope Enviornment in Norfolk, Virginia.
(Credit score: Mikey Williams/Prime Rank)
Mason, 20, stopped the injured Vasquez with a left to the physique in spherical two, bailing himself out of a troublesome scenario to get the knockout on the 1:59 mark. Vasquez suffered a proper leg damage after being harm by a straight left from Mason early in spherical two, and he was defenseless on the level.
After the combat, Mason admitted that he’d made a mistake by taking the combat to the within so early in opposition to the hard-hitting 30-year-old Dominican Republic-born Vasquez. In hindsight, Mason feels that he ought to have boxed initially earlier than going to the within to make it a battle in opposition to an enormous puncher fighter.
Abdullah Mason Got here Again
Within the first knockdown, Mason tried to throw an uppercut on the within and was nailed by a brief left hook from Vasquez. After that, Mason got here again to place Vasquez down a thunderous left uppercut within the first spherical.
Mason was like a shark smelling blood within the water, attacking Vasquez with out warning. Within the remaining seconds of spherical one, Vasquez as soon as once more dropped Mason with a left hook. He wasn’t harm when he bought again up however had a glance of shock on his face as if to say, ‘How did I get caught once more?’
“That’s what we’re in it for – to make boxing thrilling. It was enjoyable. I confirmed that I used to be human, however I got here again,” mentioned Abdullah Mason to Fighthype, discussing his must get off the deck twice from first-round knockdowns to rally to attain a second-round knockout of Yohan Vasquez final Friday evening in Norfolk, Virginia.
“Flash; it was a flash knockdown,” mentioned Abdullah about being dropped by a left hook twice by Vasquez in spherical one. “It was an amazing combat, however I’m right here, and we’re on to the subsequent. I bought to return and rewatch it step-by-step to recollect all of the moments.
Mason Needs Title Shot In 2025
“We wish everyone,” mentioned Mason about wanting all of the champions at light-weight in 2025 that he’ll be focusing on for a title shot.”
Prime Rank will resolve whether or not to push Mason for a world title shot in 2025, as they might select to proceed to develop him after the issues he had in opposition to the non-contender Vasquez. For Mason to have an opportunity in opposition to any of the world champions, he would wish to keep away from making the identical careless errors that led to his two knockdowns.
Assuming Mason does combat for a world title subsequent yr, a match in opposition to WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson, WBO champ Denys Berinchyk or whoever holds the IBF belt could be good choices.
“As quickly as I watched it again, I mentioned, ‘Oh no,’ however this turned me into a brand new fighter,” mentioned Mason to Fighthype about his perception that he’ll enhance from his efficiency. “I’d say that I stepped on the within a bit early. Him being an influence puncher, I knew I used to be going to go in there to field him, however I stepped on the within a bit early.”
Areas of Enchancment for Abdullah Mason
– Staying outdoors
– Utilizing peak and attain
– Softening up Opponents first
– Keep away from early shootouts
In opposition to a strong fighter like Vasquez, Mason ought to have stayed on the surface and bombed him from lengthy vary fairly than getting in shut the place his opponent might hit him along with his exhausting left hooks.
“I deviated from the plan and the whole lot my father tells me; I noticed it shut up this time as an alternative of studying from anyone else’s errors.
