22-year-old world champion Abdullah Mason joins Ring Magainze today to discuss his rapid ascension to the top of his division, how he plans to stay there, and where he sees he future in the sport. Mason is currently slated to defend his WBO title against Joe Cordina on July 4, and talks a bit about that matchup as well. Here’s some of what he had to say below.
Mason on his mindset, going from prospect to world champion
“My mindset now is keep doing the same thing until I retire, because every time I step into the ring, anytime I have a fight, the next performance
always tops the last one or it’s always a step forward when it comes to what the people are looking forward to…Me being a world champion, that’s the highest it gets in boxing so as long as I keep performing and keep having those stamps every time I step into the ring — they been calling me the undercard main event since I turned pro. So, just keep doing what I been doing since I turned pro.”
On what fighter he needs to beat to really establish himself as an elite
“I really don’t know at this point…For me it’s not really about that, it’s about me doing what I know I can do, me doing my job. And everybody sees the potential, everybody sees where I’m at now and the growth level is crazy. It’s a high ceiling that I feel no other fighter in boxing has. So I feel like if I keep doing what I’m doing, that ceiling will be met.”
On mixing his boxing ability with a willingness to fight at close range
“I feel like it’s more of a certain mentality. Those throwback fighters, they always want to get in there and they have an appetite for smoke just like I got an appetite for smoke. So, it’s something that I step in there, I want to execute the way we train to execute. Every fight not going to be a crazy head-t0-head, toe-to-toe fight. I’m definitely going to box some in fights and move around but every fight not going to have to be like that and every fight I’m not going to have to box…It depends on who I step in there with.”
On having a tougher than expected fight with Sam Noakes
“Right now you can say that no other fighter in my division would’ve fought him the way I fought him that night and came out on top and won. With everybody knowing his strong point, his attribute — his only thing that he really had was him being strong, him being sturdy, him coming forward and his offense just sitting there and being strong. And nobody would’ve sat there with him and made they mind up that I’m going to beat him like this and step to him and I’m going to beat him at his own game and come out on top as world champion.”
On facing Joe Cordina next
“I feel like I’m going to have a lot of fun in there with Joe Cordina. Joe Cordina, he’s definitely a quick fighter, volume puncher, he’s good with his offense and he’s going to come to work. I got a lot of smoke to give him.”
On whether he has interest in fighting Raymond Muratalla
“Absolutely. Whatever comes next I’ll be ready for, and if it’s Raymond, I’ll be ready for it. If it’s anybody else with a title or for another vacant title, I’ll be ready for it. But I’m open to all possibilities and if that’s what’s next I’ll be prepared for that, for sure.”
