Mason vows to “cook” Noakes in a short, ferocious WBO shootout

Abdullah Mason says he’s going “cook” in his fight for the vacant WBO lightweight title against #2 Sam Noakes on Saturday night in their undercard slot at ANB Arena in Riyadh.

Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) wants the fight to be a war, and he feels he has what it takes to defeat the power-hungry Noakes (17-0, 15 KOs. There is a lot at stake in this fight. Capturing the WBO lightweight title will set the stage for the winner and an ambitious fight against Shavonkurrta Davis before he can get some potential ambition against Gervonkurta Davis. retire

Why this one steals the show

“This could be the best of the night,” said commentator Todd Grisham DAZN about the Abdullah Mason vs. Sam Noakes fight for the vacant WBO lightweight title on Saturday.

There is a very good chance that Mason-Noakes will steal the spotlight from the main line and co-fights on Saturday. Just on paper, Mason and Noakes make for a more entertaining contest than the fights up there on the card.

Mason (21) and Noakes will come out guns blazing in this fight. They both know they can’t afford to box because their opponent is going to shoot for a knockout.

“They know someone is going to go down. Great power in both men. They are hard hitting guys,” says Sergio Mora. “Abdullah Mason, he’s tall, he’s thin, but he’s been dropped before. Somebody’s getting knocked out.”

It is in the DNA of Noakes and Mason to be ready for war. One of these guys will get knocked out, and chances are it will be over early within four rounds. There is too much firepower for both guys not to finish early.

Mason’s appetite for smoking

“We’re going to cook tomorrow night. I feel like smoking,” Mason said.

What one has to worry about with Mason is that he was not prepared for this type of opponent he faces in Noakes. Abdullah’s top-ranked promoters have matched him against poor opposition his entire four-year professional career. So, this is a formidable step up.

“Strength and strength,” says Noakes Queensberry when asked what advantage he has over Mason. “Obviously he’s a very good boxer, but we’ll see on Saturday. I think I’m going to shock quite a few people on Saturday night, and I think there will be some respect for my name after that.”

Noakes brings the power

Noakes has the strength advantage in this fight. But what makes Mason dangerous are his uppercuts and his long reach. He gets busted with his uppercuts and isn’t afraid to leave himself open to get clipped. The long, looping punches he throws make it difficult for his opponents to track the angle of incoming fire.

“I feel like I’ll get a huge fan base in the UK after this. It could be even bigger than my fan base in the US,” Abdullah said. “I hear how into boxing they are and how much they love the sport. The stadiums are always packed. For me to get some of those fans, that will be huge for me on Saturday. It’s a great opportunity for me to get those fans.”

UK Stardom on Mason’s Mind

For Mason to become a star in the UK, he will need to fight there on a regular basis. It is not enough that he just beats Noakes and expects to become a star in the country overnight.

If he stays on top long enough like Canelo Alvarez, the British fans will want to see him fight in large numbers. It is still too early to tell if Abdullah will have any longevity in the sport, or if he can compete above 135 at 140 and 147. It’s not a good sign that Mason is already getting hurt against lesser fighters who aren’t top tier.