Shakur Stevenson says he will fight lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason in the future. WBC 135-lb champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) says he respects the 20-year-old Mason, and he doesn’t think Top Rank should chase him in his career.
Bedford, Ohio native Mason looks like a can’t miss future superstar and a much better talent than Shakur. Top Rank invested in Shakur’s career and signed him out of the 2016 Olympics, but he failed to win over fans despite winning three divisional world titles.
That money was wasted because Shakur’s popularity didn’t increase, and he recently left Top Rank in favor of signing with Matchroom. That marriage might not last if Shakur loses or his fights don’t attract interest.
Stevenson’s hit-and-miss fighting style is not entertaining for this generation of fans, who do not enjoy the outdated Mayweather fighting approach. It didn’t sit well with this era’s fans, who liked action rather than the pick-and-scat style used by Shakur.
Mason, 5’9″, may be too big and powerful for Shakur, who can’t hit and looked weak in his showdown against Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas last November. Shakur doesn’t seem capable of handling a big puncher like Mason.
It might not be competitive if that fight takes place in two to three years. Shakur’s career might be on a solid path, just like Regis Prograis’ after next year, and he won’t be worth fighting for.
It is unknown where Shakur’s career will be after 2025. As #1 WBC Contender William Zepeda destroy him in February, as many believe will be the case, a fight between him and Mason may never happen. Shakur will be faced with some tough decisions in his career as to whether to stay at lightweight or move up to 140 and try to reinvent himself.
Zepeda has already beaten fighters who use the same takedown style that Shakur uses, and he made it look easy. He averages 100.2 punches per round, and he hits hard to the body and head. Shakur could be doomed against Zepeda.
Three-year pro Mason faces Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs) next month in an eight-round bout on the undercard of Keyshawn Davis vs. Gustavo Lemos on November 8 at the Scopes Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The event will be shown live on ESPN+.
Greg Hackett: “If you ever got the chance, would you fight Abdullah Mason?” said Hackett GBHTV.
Shakur Stevenson: “Yeah, I think Mason’s a great young fighter. I don’t think they should rush him. I think they’re doing exactly what they’re doing with him; Top Rank is giving him the right fights. Yeah, he’s working his way up. He’s working right. I respect him.
“Probably 40 or 47,” Shakur said of what weight he expects to end up at in his career. “I used to think I would reach 54. I don’t grow up in a minute. I slowed down my growth spurt.”
Mason stole the shows, fighting on Shakur’s undercards and making him and Keyshawn Davis look bad with their performances.
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