Shakur Stevenson says he will fight in the future lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason. WBC 135-lb champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) says he respects the 20-year-old Mason, and doesn’t think Top Rank should rush into his career.
The Mason, native of Bedford, Ohio, looks like a can’t-miss future superstar and a much better talent than Shakur. Top Rank invested money in Shakur’s career, signing him out of the 2016 Olympics, but he failed to win over fans despite capturing three world division titles.
That money was lost because Shakur’s popularity didn’t grow, and he left Top Rank recently in favor of signing with Matchroom. That marriage may not last if Shakur loses or his fights fail to attract interest.
by Stevenson hit-and-miss The fighting style is not fun for fans of this generation, who don’t like Mayweather’s old fashioned approach to fighting. That doesn’t suit fans of this era, who like action rather than the peck-and-scat style that Shakur uses.
Mason, 5’9″, might be too big and powerful for Shakur, who can’t punch and looked poor last November in his fight against Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas. Shakur doesn’t seem capable of handling a big puncher like Mason.
It might not be competitive if that fight happens in two or three years. Shakur’s career could be in skidrow, like Regis Prograis after next year, and it wouldn’t be worth fighting for.
It is unknown where Shakur’s career will be after 2025. If the candidate # 1 WBC Guglielmo Zepeda destroy it in February, as many people believe will be the case, a fight between him and Mason could never happen. Shakur would have to face some tough decisions in his career on whether to stay at lightweight or move to 140 and try to reinvent himself.
Zepeda has already beaten fighters who use the same pull-back style that Shakur uses, and made it look easy. He averages 100.2 punches thrown per round, and hits hard to the body and head. Shakur could be convicted against Zepeda.
Three-year pro Mason faces Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs) in an eight-round fight next month on the undercard of Keyshawn Davis vs. The event will be shown live on ESPN+.
Greg Hackett: “If you ever had the chance, would you fight Abdullah Mason?” said Hackett to GBHTV.
Shakur Stevenson: “Yeah, I think Mason is a great young fighter. I don’t think they should face him. I think they’re doing exactly what they’re doing with him; Top Rank is giving him the right fights. Yeah, it’s working. It’s working well respect it.
“Probably 40 or 47,” Shakur said of the weight he expects to end up at in his career. “I think I got to 54. I haven’t grown a minute. I’ve slowed down my growth spurt.”
Mason stole the shows, wrestling on Shakur’s undercards, and making him and Keyshawn Davis look bad with their performances.
