It was reported and expected and is now official, Albert Bell is in to face Abdullah Mason for Mason’s WBO lightweight title on Saturday, July 4.
Bell is replacing Joe Cordina, who was unable to secure a visa for the fight in Cleveland due to pending assault charges in the United Kingdom.
The 33-year-old Bell (28-0, 9 KO) is a former Top Rank fighter who was let go or parted ways or however you want to put it, last fighting for the promotional company in 2021. He never graduated from their preliminary
undercard lineups, and there was a pretty sincere feeling that he was just not good TV and was going to have a hard time becoming any sort of star.
But since then Bell has just plugged along, largely fighting in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, as well as a couple of bouts in Atlanta, and now he has a huge opportunity. He’s jumping two weeks ahead of when he had planned to fight, as he was slated for an IBF eliminator against Andy Cruz on July 18 on a Matchroom bill. But this really is the sort of opportunity that someone like Bell cannot pass on if offered; he’s still lacking a major promoter or, honestly, much interest from any of them.
He’s also, potentially, a very tricky late sub for 22-year-old Mason (20-0, 17 KO), who is seen as a major rising talent and potential star on the Top Rank roster. Cordina was a pretty straightforward sort of challenge on paper, a solid veteran fighter, but Bell’s spoiler style and height is something Mason will have to change gears on in preparation. Styles make fights, and Bell has the sort of style that can simply cause problems.
The show will also still feature WBC feathrweight titlist Bruce Carrington defending against Rene Palacios, as well as a nice-looking welterweight matchup between unbeaten hopefuls Tiger Johnson and Christopher Guerrero.
Those three fights will air on TNT in addition to streaming live on DAZN, as the event is the start of TNT’s new “The Fight” series, a monthly partnership with DAZN to air live fights on the basic cable network and hopefully raise everyone’s profile along the way.
