America’s Terence Crawford is a former pound for pound number one and his words about Abdullah Mason of Ohio speak volumes.
Mason won by final round knockout in round 12 at the weekend just gone on America’s 250th July 4th birthday ever.
The Ohio man left it late and dramatic to win by knockout and showed heart to come back from some adversity in the contest.
Crawford said afterwards mentioned Mason showed new gears to his game and turned the fight up when he needed to.
Starting to go to the body when he needed to. He also commended his ability to adjust his game plan mid fight.
This is important and sometimes can be a sign of a good champion in the making.
Mason is just 22 and is boxing’s and America’s youngest champion already but much can be improved on.
Slick, taller Albert Bell at the weekend was outboxing Mason on the back foot on the early rounds though and in the middle part of the bout.
Mason early on was coming forward getting tagged by jabs and straight punches as Bell pivoted off to the side on his back foot early on.
Bell slipped many Mason jabs even in the middle parts of the fight.
Boxing on the back foot Bell was too good a boxer at times for Mason and landed some excellent uppercuts off the back foot as well.
Some of the uppercuts that Albert Bell connected on Mason in the fight with were a sight to behold.
A terrific boxer Albert Bell, it must be noted.
But Abdullah Mason found a way to win in around round 8 he started landing his straight left hand a lot more.
Coming forward with more pressure than ever he hit home with it a number of times.
The gas tank and cardio of Abdullah Mason down the stretch in the championship rounds is what really told at the weekend.
Very impressive.
It allowed him to impose his will on Albert Bell and he kept hitting home with that left hand as the fight went on.
Digging to the body and head well, Mason came on strong and knocked down and ultimately knocked out Bell in round 12.
The ref had seen enough when Albert Hall was knocked down again face first from a big left hook on the inside.
That was the end of the fight for Bell.
American boxer Abdullah Mason moves on to possibly big things immediately next.
Another US boxer Bruce Carrington also got the win on the same night in Ohio on Saturday night in live boxing action.
Entertaining night of scraps this year on 4th of July weekend.
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