Abdullah Mason

Bio

Right then — Abdullah Mason is the real deal. The Cleveland southpaw captured the WBO lightweight title in November with a brilliant decision win over a rising contender, and at 21 years old he's one of the brightest young champions in the sport. Trained since childhood, Mason has the kind of fundamentals you can't buy — tidy feet, a whippy southpaw jab, and a straight left hand that sits perfectly on the end of his lead-hand work.

What separates Mason from most of the teen prospects is his composure. He's been fighting on big Top Rank cards since he was 17, and he's never looked remotely out of his depth. When things got complicated against a legitimate puncher last November, Mason showed chin, showed heart, and closed the fight strong. Make no mistake, the lad is a proper champion.

Mason's first defence is booked for July 4 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland against Welsh former world champion Joe Cordina, live on DAZN. It's a homecoming, it's a statement, and it's the kind of test that tells us whether the hype is justified. The early word from his camp is that he's hungrier than ever — and given what's at stake, he absolutely should be.