Abdullah Mason is the 2023 TSS Prospect of the Year

No one ever operationally defined the term “prospect” until we set the parameters two years ago. For our purposes, a prospect could not have had more than a dozen fights and must still be in the undercard phase of his pro career as indicated by the fact that he had yet to compete in a bout scheduled for more than eight rounds.

We may have to soften this definition in the future as so many young boxers are pushed into 10-round fights very early in their careers. Shucks, 6-0 British flyweight Galal Yafai and Cuban defector Andy Cruz, currently 2-0 as a lightweight, were thrust into 10-round low-level title fights right out of the box. We would not have considered either one a prospect, however, because of their advanced ages. Yafai is 31; Cruz 28.

A prospect, in a looser definition, is a new kid on the block turning heads among folks in the know. Abdullah Mason, a 19-year-old lightweight from Cleveland, currently 11-0 (9 KOs), certainly fits the bill. None of his bouts have been scheduled for more than six rounds.

Mason’s amateur exploits attracted the attention of Houston rap mogul James Prince who previously managed Floyd Mayweather and Andre Ward and is currently involved with Shakur Stevenson and Jared Anderson, among others. Prince took Abdullah to Top Rank which officially signed him in October of 2021 six months after the precocious boxer ran roughshod over the competition at a USA Boxing national tournament in Shreveport, winning the lightweight title in the Youth division. “Mason was the standout fighter of this tournament, and never really faced adversity despite fighting in one of the deeper brackets,” wrote Luke Ketelle, an authority on amateur boxing.

Mason made his pro debut on Nov. 5, 2021 in Las Vegas, scoring a second-round stoppage over capable but overmatched Jaylan Phillips. Four fights into his pro career, Hall of Fame boxer turned ESPN boxing analyst Timothy Bradley paid him the highest compliment, likening him to a southpaw Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Based on his last performance last month, Mason appears to punch harder than Mayweather. Against Laredo, Texas, campaigner Jose Cardenas, Abdullah delivered one of the best knockouts of the year. And there may be more where he came from. He is the second-youngest of five fighting brothers. The siblings, “the Jackson 5 of Boxing,” are coached by their father Valiant Mason.

We here at The Sweet Science salute Abdullah Mason, the 2023 TSS Prospect of the Year.

Honorable mention: Emiliano Vargas

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

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