NEWARK, NJ — It’s a little laborious to imagine that Abdullah Mason remains to be in his embryonic stage. Anybody between 135 and 147 higher be careful for when this part passes, which is occurring quick. The 20-year-old southpaw appears awfully good, too good, proper now as his younger profession blossoms.
The 5-foot-9 Mason was imagined to be going through his hardest opponent Saturday night time on the undercard of the Shakur Stevenson WBC light-weight title protection in opposition to Artem Harutyunyan on the Prudential Middle.
It didn’t seem like it, the best way Mason took aside 31-year-old veteran Luis Lebron in three rounds.
Abdullah Mason labored properly to the physique in opposition to Luis Lebron (Photograph by Mikey WIlliams/High Rank)
Mason (14-0, 12 knockouts) barely labored up a sweat in getting the stoppage victory at 1:18 of the third.
“I’m right here, I’m coming, they see me,” Mason stated. “I fed him somewhat little bit of smoke, and he didn’t occur have the urge for food for it. I’m on ESPN and I’ve loads of talent to present out. I didn’t wish to finish the night time too early. It was the (second) spherical that I dropped him twice.
“I took my time somewhat bit. I wished to take my time and provides the individuals one thing to observe. I wasn’t stunned (Lebron got here out for the third).”
Within the opening spherical, Mason, in glowing purple trunks, poked and prodded in opposition to Lebron. Lebron (20-6-1, 13 KOs) tried to stress the new prospect however couldn’t discover Mason. Within the meantime, Mason labored completely different ranges properly, stabbing on the physique after which working up prime when Lebron would deliver his palms down.
Within the opening 10 seconds of the second, Mason drove a left uppercut via Lebron’s face. Utilizing his proper shoulder, Mason bore into Lebron and had him backing up within the second half of the spherical with a physique shot with 1:40 left within the spherical.
THE TRAINER HAD ENOUGH 😳
PURE DOMINANCE FROM ABDULLAH MASON 🥊 #SHAKURARTEM pic.twitter.com/iGK48SBAXt
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 7, 2024
With 50 seconds left within the second, Mason bounced a left uppercut off Lebron, adopted by a proper hook, which despatched Lebron down. About 20 seconds later, Mason dropped Lebron a second time with three proper hooks.
Within the third, Lebron, with blood streaming from his nostril, acquired nailed by a proper, adopted by a left to the physique. Mason closed the quick, correct mixture with a proper hook, which compelled Lebron’s nook to toss within the towel.
“It is a course of, and he’s getting it an increasing number of,” stated Valiant Mason, Abdullah’s father and coach. “We didn’t wish to rush issues. We wished to do the whole lot behind our protection. I appreciated the whole lot about tonight. It was lovely. I appreciated his execution; he positioned his punches.
“All the things went the place it was imagined to go. All the things I informed he listened to, and I get virtually the whole lot I ask virtually instantly. I don’t suppose something was discovered. I feel we did some educating tonight.”
Joseph Santoliquito is a Corridor of Fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
Comply with @JSantoliquito
