Rising Lightweight Star Compared to Boxing Greats: "He's Got Both Their Strengths"

Shawn Porter, a former welterweight champion, has pegged Abdullah Mason as a rising star in boxing. Porter sees Mason as a mix of top lightweight fighters Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Shakur Stevenson.

In a recent interview with 210BoxingTV, Porter couldn't contain his excitement about the young prospect:

"Abdullah Mason. He's the next thing without a doubt. He's got the reflexes and tuition of Shakur Stevenson, but he also has the flash and the offence of a Tank Davis. He's a hybrid of those guys."

Mason, a 20-year-old southpaw from Ohio, fights at 135lbs and has already racked up an impressive 15-0 record with 13 knockouts. He's coming off a stoppage win over Mike Ohan Jr and is set to face Yohan Vasquez in November for his fifth fight of 2024.

Porter's comparison to Davis and Stevenson is high praise indeed. Davis, known as 'Tank', boasts a perfect 30-0 record with 28 knockouts. He's a three-weight world champion and currently holds the WBA lightweight title. His notable wins include victories over Ryan Garcia, Leo Santa Cruz, Frank Martin, and Rolly Romero. Davis is preparing for his next fight against Lamont Roach in Houston this December.

Stevenson, on the other hand, is the current WBC lightweight champion and also undefeated at 22-0. He's a three-weight world champion, having previously held titles at 126lbs and 130lbs.

Porter expanded on his assessment of Mason:

"When people talk about Tank they always talk about the power, but he's extremely smart and loves his boxing so he puts his all into it. Mason is 135lbs, 20 years old, he is the next truth."

With such high praise from a respected former champion, all eyes will be on Mason's upcoming fight in November. If he lives up to Porter's comparison, we might be witnessing the rise of boxing's next big star.