Abdullah Mason is the TSS Fighter of the Month for November

The Nov. 22 card at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, included four world title fights. The match between Abdullah Mason and Sam Noakes for the vacant WBO lightweight title stole the show.

The bout was a humdinger, a bloody, grueling 12-round contest with several momentum swings. It went to the scorecards where the 21-year-old Mason won a unanimous decision, emerging as boxing’s youngest world title-holder.

Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) was a 4/1 favorite, but serious fight fans knew that Sam Noakes was something more than your garden variety British domestic belt-holder. He had knocked out 15 of his 17 opponents, leading some to call him the Maidstone Golovkin (he hails from Maidstone, County Kent). On the two occasions he was extended the distance, he scored 12-round decisions over veteran campaigners Yvan Mendy and Ryan Walsh, neither of whom has ever been stopped. In the aggregate, Noakes won every round on five of the scorecards and 11 rounds on the other.

By contrast, Abdullah Mason had never answered the bell for more than six rounds in his brief pro career. If one knew beforehand that this match would turn into a fight of attrition, one would be inclined to bet the underdog. But, no, Mason was sharper as the fight progressed, working the body effectively as he fought fire with fire. The judges had it 117-111 and 115-113 twice.

Abdullah Mason is trained by his father Valiant Mason at a gym in Cleveland’s inner ring suburb of Euclid, Ohio, on the shore of Lake Erie. Abdullah is one of five fighting brothers leading wags to call them the Jackson Five of the Sweet Science. Abdullah, the second-youngest, is plainly the most gifted and was the first to turn pro, signing with Top Rank at age 17 after winning a slew of amateur titles.

What’s next for Abdullah Mason? The scuttlebutt has it that the Dec. 13 fight in Stockton, California, between Joe Cordina of Wales (18-1, 9 KOs) and Gabriel Flores (27-2, 8 KOs) will be bumped into a WBO eliminator with Mason matched against the winner.

Cordina, 34, previously held the IBF super featherweight title. He will be making his U.S. debut against Flores, 25, who has been fighting on small shows since getting cut loose by Top Rank.

Stockton’s Flores will have the home field advantage, but the Welshman (currently a 13/5 favorite) is considered a cut above.

Congratulations to Abdullah Mason, the TSS Fighter of the Month.

Honorable mention: Ben Whittaker

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