Boxing
Abdullah Mason says Keyshawn Davis left 135 behind
The undefeated WBO champion spoke calmly about Davis this week, but his message hit home. Mason noted that he was at the top of the division while Davis was still fighting at lightweight. Since then, they have parted ways. Mason stayed put, won the belt and now rules the weight class.
“I was number one in the same division at the time,” Mason said. “So he lost. I’m still here at 135 pounds.”
Mason makes no accusations of evasion or demanding a showdown. It states a fact about where they stand. Once the title was available, he was there to take it. He secured the belt with a 12-round decision over Sam Noakes in November. It was a grueling performance during which he answered every question about his endurance.
If there was a chance for Mason and Davis to meet at lightweight, it was open. Mason believes that the fight did not occur for reasons that have nothing to do with his own will.
“You hear everyone say what they say, but they go this way,” he said. “We’re moving up, up. They’re going to look back and say this. They’re going to go this way and say something like this. So I hope they do well.”
Mason considers this conversation about what could have been insignificant. He doesn’t buy the excuse that weight was the only thing that stopped the fight.
“If there was something, it would have happened already,” he said.
This isn’t your typical trash talk. He’s a 21-year-old champion, which makes it clear he’s not going anywhere. Mason sounds like a man in complete control of his timeline. He doesn’t feel the need to hunt down a rival who has chosen a different weight category. His attention remains focused on the 135-pound limit and his upcoming responsibilities as titleholder.
Mason expects to defend his title around April against mandatory challenger Joe Cordina. This is a risky task for the youthful master. Cordina is an experienced former titleholder who is increasing weight to get his career back on track. By facing such an experienced opponent, Mason proves that he is not just sitting in the lane. He wants the toughest fights available at 135 pounds.
His hunger for a real test is obvious.
“That’s me. I have an appetite for smoke,” he said.
His recent victory over Noakes proves this point. Mason wasn’t taking any chances. He traded shots, dealt with adversity and improved his performance over the course of 12 arduous rounds. This experience probably served him better than a quick knockout, proving he could handle himself well in deep water.
This week’s brief moment also highlighted the icy reality between him and Davis. Mason confirmed that the two were recently in the same building.
– Yes, he was nearby.
When asked if Davis had spoken to him, the answer was low.
“No, he doesn’t say anything.”
Mason wasn’t trying to turn this encounter into a headline. He noticed the silence and moved on. This fits his overall approach. There is no staged drama or public argument here. Only two fighters move in opposite directions while one stays behind to hold the fort in the lightweight division.
While Mason admits he will eventually get promoted, he sees it as a natural step rather than an exit strategy.
“When I advance, I will win titles,” he said. “I’ll be there wherever I am.”
For now, he’s not begging for attention or trying to rewrite the past. He maintains his position at 135 pounds and invites everyone else in that weight class to meet him. If he continues to reject high-level challengers, the debate over who stays and who goes will be decided in the pages of history.
“I just don’t think they’re going to face the fire,” Hearn told iFL TV about Dana White and his company at Zuffa.
“You have years of catching, putting out fires and being bombarded with pellets and grenades to overcome this.
“I just don’t think they’ll be ready for the fire. You must be a little unwell.” [__] to do this. That’s what I do.”
Hearn also ridiculed White’s recent comments about boxing promotion and said the UFC president faces criticism now that he is in the boxing industry.
“He stank,” Hearn said.
“He’s not used to this. Don’t forget what we do, which is meeting people, giving interviews. But he had a narrative.
“He didn’t have anyone like that. That’s why he can’t do it and instead just says weird lyrics.”
Hearn later joked that White’s repeated comments about him actually helped escalate his visibility in the United States.
“I have to thank Dana White,” Hearn said.
“Every press conference he holds, he talks about me.
“I think there are people asking, ‘Who is this Eddie Hearn?’ Little Google, boss, Eddie Hearn.
Promoter Matchroom also rejected White’s recent claim that no promoter has staged more boxing events this year than Zuffa Boxing.
“The entire media audience responded, ‘Okay,’ and moved on to the next question,” Hearn said.
“Imagine if I said that. I would be fried by it in an instant.”
Hearn’s latest comments come as Zuffa Boxing continues to try to establish itself in the sport following months of public photos between White and several longtime boxing promoters.
The weigh-ins quickly turned tense when Albright apparently sent a message directly to Davis during their bout.
“Be a professional,” Albright said in a recording later released by DAZN Boxing.
The lack of weight immediately sparked a backlash online, as Davis has dealt with weight issues before. Last year, Davis lost his WBO lightweight title after losing more than four pounds ahead of his scheduled defense against Edwin De Los Santos.
Friday also marked the second time Davis has failed to make weight in his last three fights.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum admitted that Davis was having difficulty gaining 140 pounds and suggested that the problem may still exist.
“Well, obviously he has issues at 140,” Arum told Fighthype. “The problem is the next category is seven pounds. That’s a gigantic difference.”
Arum also compared Friday’s setback to the loss of Davis, who was previously more than four pounds compact before his canceled fight with De Los Santos last year.
“It was inexcusable because he was five pounds overweight,” Arum said.
“He is now 0.1 weight off which he will improve and get down to 140 or less.”
Keyshawn was later asked by DAZN what he told Albright during Friday’s matchup.
“I didn’t say anything,” Davis said. “That’s what I do. I knock people out.”
When asked what kind of performance he expected in the rematch, Keyshawn gave a compact answer.
“An unexpected spectacle.”
There was already bad blood in the rematch after their first fight in October 2023 was later changed to a no-contest after Keyshawn tested positive for marijuana. Their original meeting initially resulted in Keyshawn winning by a majority vote.
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