WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson met with 135-lb prospect Abdullah Mason within the dressing room final Friday night time on November 8, to offer him pearls of knowledge after he survived a scare in his combat in opposition to veteran Yohan Vasquez on the Scope Enviornment in Norfolk, Virginia.
Following Shakur’s recommendation might restrict Abdullah Mason’s star energy, making him one of many cookie-cutter safety-first fighters who won’t ever be fashionable. Shakur’s fashion, which is a throwback to Mayweather’s outdated boring fashion, doesn’t belong within the fashionable period of boxing.
That’s why followers hold booing Shakur out of venues; he doesn’t belong. If there was a working time machine, Shakur needs to be despatched again to 1995, when followers have been extra tolerant of his fashion of preventing as a result of, on this period of competitors from different sports activities, he doesn’t belong.
Mason, 20, was dropped twice by Vasquez in spherical one however got here again to knock him out in spherical two.
Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs), recognized for his protection, instructed Mason that he doesn’t should be preventing aggressively within the first two or three rounds as a result of each fighter is harmful early on. He desires Mason to make use of his 5’9″ top by staying on the surface as a substitute of placing himself in danger by preventing in shut, which is why he was dropped twice by Vasquez.
Mason threw uppercuts and was dropped twice with left hooks from the highly effective Vaszuez (26-6, 21 KOs). He put himself in danger by preventing Vasquez in shut so he might rating a spotlight reel knockout, which he finally did within the second spherical.
Shakur Provides Mason Profession Recommendation
Abdullah Mason: “We’re right here, and we’re on to the subsequent. We wish everyone.”
Shakur Stevenson: “I wish to inform you one thing that can take you have been you at to elite,” mentioned Stevenson to Prime Rank Boxing in a dialog to Abdullah Mason. “Each fighter within the first spherical is harmful. So, along with your expertise and every little thing you bought, you could possibly hold guys outdoors from the primary, as a result of you possibly can combat inside and outside.
“You combat in each ranges, however for these first three rounds, you continue to wish to be defensively conscious and hold guys outdoors. Then, ‘He’s carrying down slightly bit, and now we’re going to step to him and take him out of there.’
“You’re going to take everybody out of there along with your expertise. Simply perceive early on, everyone is harmful. You don’t wish to go on the market exchanging and giving up your top. Preserve the man at bay. Then, set three, 4, or 5. Okay, you’re slowing down. I’m about to beat your a**.’ You’re a hell of a fighter, bro.
“You’re going to be one of many greats, I promise you. Simply ensure the IQ is there with the talents.”
Why Mason Ought to NOT Hear To Shakur
The issue with Mason altering his fashion to develop into extra defensive like Shakur is that it’s going to take loads of the thrill out of his fashion, making him simply one of many abnormal fighters within the light-weight division slightly than standing out like he’s doing now.
To be a star within the fashionable period of boxing, fighters have gotten to combat in a courageous method, taking dangers of being clipped to get the knockout. If Mason adjustments his preventing fashion If Mason fights like Shakur, he’ll be boring to observe and should by no means develop into a star. Stevenson is among the dullest fighters within the sport, and it feels like he desires to remodel Abdullah’s fashion to be a duplicate of his boring method to fights.
DON’T Be Mates With Shakur
It’s a nasty concept for Mason to alter the best way he fights. Furthermore, he shouldn’t be pleasant with Shakur as a result of he could find yourself needing to combat him. The very last thing followers want to listen to is Mason saying he can’t combat Shakur as a result of he’s buddies with him. That’s Keyshawn’s argument for not preventing Shakur.
