By Phil Rogers
Abdullah Mason, a rising prospect, will be competing in his 13th professional bout on Saturday night. The match will take place in Corpus Christi, Texas, as part of Top Rank’s heavyweight doubleheader undercard. His opponent for the night will be Ronal Ron.
So far, the undefeated lightweight has been incredibly impressive in his professional career. He boasts a record of 12 wins, with 10 of them being knockout victories. In his last bout against Benjamin Gurment, he delivered a bone-chilling knockout that is being considered for ‘KO of the Year’.
Mason, a 20-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, is part of a group of five boxing brothers who all receive training from their father, Valiant Mason.
Abdullah Mason, the young southpaw, has received impressive accolades from Tim Bradley Jr and former sparring partner Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson believes that Mason is the most promising young prospect in boxing, stating that many would struggle to defeat him. In the future, Stevenson predicts that Mason will become a formidable opponent for everyone to handle.
Competition to reach the pinnacle of the 135lbs division will be fierce, however, with a glut of hugely talented young pretenders and amateur stars carving out their own route to the top. Boxing News takes a look at seven other fighters being touted as the future of the lightweight division.
Emiliano Vargas (9-0, 7 KOs)
The current Top Rank contender appears to have inherited a significant portion of his father and trainer, the highly respected “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas’s, skillset.
Andy Cruz (3-0, 1 KO)
After years of dominating amateur boxing, the two-time Olympic gold medallist decided to leave Cuba and chase his professional dream with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Sam Noakes (13-0, 13 KOs)
The British and Commonwealth Champion has consistently made a strong impression under the guidance of Frank Warren. Now, he aims to further enhance his progress by challenging Yvan Mendy for the vacant European lightweight title on April 20.
Albert Batyrgaziev (10-0, 7 KOs)
Since transitioning to a professional career four years ago, the Russian ex-kickboxer has been accumulating guaranteed victories in his home country and recently claimed the Olympic gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo.
Keyshawn Davis (10-0, 7 KOs)
Before he even threw a professional punch, the young American was hailed by many as a promising star of the sport. He has utilized his exceptional amateur background to great success in the professional arena.
Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs)
“Kid Austin” stands out as a highly promising prospect from Golden Boy, having honed his skills by sparring with renowned fighters like Devin Haney, Adrien Broner, Shakur Stevenson, and Robert Easter. This 21-year-old is brimming with confidence, earning the admiration of none other than Floyd Mayweather Jr., a highly esteemed figure in the boxing world.
Ashton Sylve (11-0, 9 KOs)
Sylve, with his lightning-fast hands, achieved 10 national titles as a young amateur under the name “H20”. After transitioning into the professional boxing scene in Mexico’s challenging small halls, Sylve has now joined forces with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. His addition to the talented roster at the 135lbs weight class is highly anticipated.
