Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) shall be battling Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs) on November eighth in an eight-round struggle on the undercard of Keyshawn Davis vs. Gustavo Lemos on the Scope Area in Norfolk, Virginia. The occasion shall be proven stay on ESPN+.
Mason’s Presence on the Card Places Stress on Keyshawn
Placing Mason on this card will strain light-weight contender Keyshawn to lift his sport as a result of he’s appeared more and more worse with every step-up struggle High Rank has given him. Having Mason on this card will spotlight the error High Rank made by losing their cash signing Keyshawn out of the 2020 Olympics.
For this occasion, High Rank has chosen to not bury the 20-year-old Mason’s struggle as they’ve finished previously. Mason has regularly outshined the primary occasion in latest playing cards and has been the saving grace, particularly for Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan headliner final July. Mason appeared spectacular on that card, destroying Luis Lebron in three rounds.
Some followers on social media say Mason must be the one combating Keyshawn (11-0, 7 KOs) within the headliner slightly than the just lately crushed Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs), who misplaced his final struggle in April and doesn’t even struggle at 135. It appears fairly apparent why High Rank has chosen a 140-pounder for Keyshawn.
If Lemos is weight-drained, Keyshawn could have the benefit he must win and can look nice for informal followers. Ideally, High Rank ought to present followers that Keyshawn is for actual by agreeing to promoter Eddie Hearn’s provide to arrange a struggle between Keyshawn and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, who beat Davis 4 instances within the amateurs.
World Title in Sight
The plan is for Mason, 5’9″, to proceed to take step-up fights earlier than difficult for a world title in 2025 towards one of many world champions at light-weight. High Rank isn’t saying who the champion shall be, but it surely might be Shakur if he nonetheless holds the WBC title.
That’s unlikely because of the assassin’s row of fighters that Shakur’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has deliberate for him subsequent yr, combating William Zepeda and Gervonta Davis. If the WBC title will get snatched up by Tank, Mason can overlook about getting a shot towards him as a result of the Baltimore native will seemingly sit on the WBC title, specializing in different fighters which might be higher recognized.
Shakur’s new promoter, Eddie Hearn, seemingly received’t let him wherever close to a puncher like Abdullah Mason after the best way the New Jersey carried out towards the knockout artists Edwin De Los Santos and Jeremiah Nakathilia. Shakur ran round as if his life trusted it in each fights, wanting terrified. Hearn is attempting to show Shakur right into a “world star,” and placing him in with Mason can be counterproductive.
Mason can be a nightmare for Keyshawn, who will get hit so much and has already proven chin issues throughout his brief profession. High Rank seemingly desires to maintain Keyshawn and Abdullah Mason far aside to have separate income streams. But when Keyshawn goes to get crushed quickly, and it positive seems that approach, it would as nicely be Mason being the one doing it.
Lemos is a light-weight welterweight who was chosen to empty all the way down to 135 to face Keyshawn for some unknown cause. It doesn’t bode nicely for Lemos to need to take off extra weight to face Keyshawn at light-weight.
Different Notable Fights on the Card
- Additionally on the November eighth card is WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr., making his first protection towards #7 Derrieck Cuevas within the co-feature. That must be an thrilling struggle for so long as it lasts.
- Middleweight Troy Isley (13-0, 5 KOs) battles Tyler Howard (20-1, 11 KOs) in a ten-round struggle. If Howard has any pop in his punches, he can win this struggle as a result of Isley has already proven a weak chin, and he has no energy in any way.
Two of boxing’s greatest younger skills are headed to VA 🔥#KeyshawnLemos | FRI NOV 8 | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/ioa0xkjvWk
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 4, 2024
