Bob Arum, the founder of Top Rank Inc. and a boxing promoter with experience spanning over six decades, recently hailed young boxer Abdullah Mason as the most promising prospect he's seen in years. At 92, Arum's endorsement carries substantial weight in the boxing community. He is known for his practice of arriving early at undercard fights, often finding talent like Mason.
Mason, in his recent fight on Thursday night, improved his record to an impressive 12-0 with his 10th knockout. He faced Benjamin Gurment, who held a record of 8-1-1 with five knockouts. The fight was part of the Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz undercard at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino’s Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. Mason secured the victory via second-round knockout, dropping Gurment twice in that round. The bout, refereed by Harvey Dock, was initially scheduled for eight rounds.
Following this performance, Arum praised Mason: "This kid Abdullah Mason, what a performance he put on [Thursday] night. He’s the best I’ve seen being so young." However, Arum also expressed concerns about putting young prospects against each other too soon but noted that Mason's youth might see him progress to middleweight in time.
Managed by James Prince since signing at age 17, Mason has distinguished himself by winning several amateur tournaments at the Junior Olympic level. His poise and background contribute significantly to his rapid rise in professional boxing.
Arum also spotlighted other prospects under his watch. Emiliano Vargas stands undefeated with an 8-0 record and is set to fight Nelson Hampton on March 29 on the Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson undercard. Similarly, Bruce Carrington boasts a 10-0 record and will face Bernard Torres on Friday night.
Arum's final thoughts on Mason were full of personal admiration: "He’s unbelievably poised. And he’s such a nice kid...He’s poised in the ring; comes from a good family." This sentiment echoes why Arum makes it a point to witness the development of fighters like Mason firsthand.
In summary, Abdullah Mason has drawn significant attention from one of boxing's most respected promoters for his skill and professionalism at a young age. With an impeccable record and the backing of influential figures like Bob Arum and James Prince, Mason is undeniably a fighter to watch in the coming years.
