“I was number one in the same division when he had it,” Mason said. “So he lost it. I’m still here at 135.”
That statement has more impact than a standard exclamation. Mason doesn’t make accusations of ducking or demand a showdown. He states a fact about positioning. When the title was available, he was there to take it. He secured the belt with a 12-round decision over Sam Noakes in November, a grueling performance where he answered every question about his durability.
The subtext is impossible to ignore. If there was a window for Mason and Davis to meet at lightweight, it was open. Mason believes the fight didn’t materialize for reasons that had nothing to do with his own willingness.
“You hear everybody say what they say, but they go this way,” he said. “Move up, move up. They’re going to look back and say that. They go that way and they say it something like this. So I hope they do well.”
Mason considers the chatter about what might have been irrelevant. He rejected the idea that weight was the only obstacle.
“If something was there, it would have already happened,” he said.
This is not typical trash talk. This is a 21-year-old champion who asserts his permanence. Mason speaks like a man in total control of his timeline. He doesn’t feel the need to seek out a competitor who has chosen a different weight class. His focus remains locked on the 135-pound limit and his upcoming responsibilities as a title holder.
Mason expects to defend his title against mandatory challenger Joe Cordina in April. This is a dangerous assignment for a young champion. Cordina is a seasoned former titleholder moving up in weight to restore his standing. By taking on such an experienced opponent, Mason proves he’s not just sitting on a belt. He wants the toughest fights available at 135.
His hunger for a real test is clear.
“It’s me. I feel like smoking,” he said.
His recent win over Noakes supports that claim. Mason didn’t play it safe. He traded shots, dealt with adversity and adjusted over 12 hard rounds. That experience probably served him better than a quick knockout would have, proving he can thrive in deep waters.
A brief moment this week also highlighted the cold reality between him and Davis. Mason confirmed they were both in the same building recently.
“Yes, he was there.”
Asked if Davis had spoken to him, the answer was short.
“No, he doesn’t say anything.”
Mason didn’t try to turn the encounter into a headline. He noticed the silence and moved on. It fits his overall approach. No staged drama or public arguments exist here. Just two fighters moving in opposite directions while one stays behind to hold the fort against lightweight.
While Mason admits he will eventually move up, he views it as a natural progression rather than an escape.
“When I move up, I’m going to get my titles,” he said. “I’m going to be there wherever I am.”
For now, he is the anchor of the lightweight division. He doesn’t scream for relevance or try to rewrite the past. He stands his ground at 135 and invites anyone left in the weight class to meet him. If he continues to turn back high-level challengers, the debate about who stayed and who left will be settled by the history books.
