Boxing
Fighter classes: Shakur stands out, Serrano fails, one boxer gets f
Last weekend was emphasized by two huge boxing cards in Recent York. On Friday in Madison Square Garden contained six fights for the title with unprecedented 17 titles on the line.
In the main event, the undisputed champion of the younger welterweight, Katie Taylor, defeated Amanda Serrano by the decision to remain invincible in the fight trilogy. It was a brilliant performance of Taylor, who decided to leisurely down the pace to guess Serrano and was not out of reach.
Also on the Alycia Baumgardner card she kept her undisputed junior lightweight championships, but defeated Jennifer Miranda in a less impressive way. Shadasia Green won the nervousness of Savannah Marshall, who united two titles of super medium weight. The behind schedule substitute Cherneka Johnson took advantage of her opportunity and became the undisputed weight champion with the victory of TKO nad Shurrett Metcalf.
On Saturday, at the Louis Armstrong stadium in Queens, the Ring III card made the lightweight master Shakur Stevenson changed his ordinary defensive approach to a more aggressive attack. He dominated the previously undefeated impact of William Zepeda’s power. Hamzah Sheeraz, debuting in a super medium weight, knocked out Edgar Berlang in the fifth round to get closer to Megafight to the unquestioned championships. Subirel Matias for the first time in his career took a distance in the necessary victory over Alberto Puello to win the title of WBC Junior D Whachcor. Andreas Hale took part in every fight both on the cards in Recent York and evaluates the performances of all the best fighters.
Friday report card
Katie Taylor: born
0:50
Taylor: Nobody can deny that I won this fight
Katie Taylor believes that her third victory over Amanda Serrano was her most dominant victory in the trilogy.
It was not a slugfest from the previous two meetings. The pace was slower than their previous two fights, and the level of production was lower, which reduced the rating here, but Taylor finally fought for the fight against Serrano. Taylor used movement and a control hook and doubled on the right hand to control the long sections of the fight. Her performance has definitely proved that Taylor is a better warrior.
Amanda Serrano: D
Serrano had a terrible plan of the game against Taylor in the third fight. She decided on a box instead of a swarm and found herself after losing a decision, which was not as close as the first two fights. Serrano admitted in her interview after the fight that she did not believe that her strategy from the first two meetings would do work in the third, but her aggressive approach in these performances won fans and left the place for opinions that she should have achieved 2-0. Instead, she let Taylor fight the fight and lost a clear decision. Serrano is still one of the substantial ones, but it was not the right approach.
Alycia Baumgardner: C
The “bomb” did not show her crazy power against lightweight Miranda and did not necessarily impress those who have never seen her fight. He gets a tiny pass because it has been relatively inactive over the past few years. Nevertheless, she played safely, even though she was able to get novel fans with her power. Baumgardner promised in her interview after the fight that everything would be better from here, the approach that resembles fans, which made her an undisputed champion. He has all the tools to be a star.
Shadasia Green: B
Green was a significant weaker in her fight with the former undisputed master of the super medium weight Marshall and dug into a rather deep hole, having a point deducted in the 4th round for excessive hold. But the harsh talent and grit Green stretched her and won the divided decision about the United Master. It was not a perfect performance, but he proved that Green was a diamond in gritty, as she thought Jake Paul’s MVP. More importantly, she put herself on a potential hit with ESPN fighter No. 1 for a pound, Claressa Shields.
Cherno Johnson: born
Johnson was not even originally on the card, but he got a phone call to join MVP after Dina Thorslund’s withdrawal when she found out she was pregnant. Johnson fully took this opportunity and passed through Metcalf with the ninth round in the Bantamweight battle to become the first unquestioned Australian champion. She made a robust impression and is now in the best position to become a star.
Saturday report card
Shakur Stevenson: A
1:23
Shakur Stevenson wins with a unanimous decision to maintain his title
Shakur Stevenson defeats William Zepeda to keep his lightweight WBC title.
Stevenson silenced those who called his dull style, remaining in his pocket and distinguishing idle in the dominant unanimous decision with Zeda. He did not have to perform an thrilling performance to defeat the offensive Zepeda, but he fought as if he wanted to prove his doubts. His fight could easily be in the main place, considering that Stevenson is one of the best pounds fighters in the world and defended his lightweight championships. He won the absurd 52.2% of his blows (295 of 565), survived every storm he encountered from Zepeda and won almost every round on the results cards (118-110, 118-110 and 119-109). This performance proves that he can win in almost every style he wants.
William Zepeda: 100
Zepeda fought as he always fights, putting a entertaining 979 blows to his opponent. He gave Stevenson everything he could deal with with a relentless offensive approach, which was good enough to beat 33 other fighters, but Stevenson was too good to be overwhelmed by Zepeda’s results. Zepeda landed only 27.8% of his total blows and was too simple to find Stevenson, and Stevenson landed over 50%. Zepeda went away with a loss, but fans will want to see him again because of his thrilling style.
Hamzah Sheeraz: A
Sheeraz had to listen to Berlang’s conversation for months, about how she intends to perform a low work of the British who debuted in the great medium weight. Berlanga had the support of Recent York when they both met at the main event at the Louis Armstrong stadium, with Berlanga accompanying Fat Joe and Remy MA, performing the hit “Lean Back” for his entry. Ironically, Sheeraz forced Berlanga to “tilt back”, knocking Puerto Rican three times and collecting an impressive knockout in the fifth round. He proved that moving to 168 pounds was appropriate and now he is preparing for the winner of Canelo Alvarez and Terenka Crawford.
Edgar Lianga: f
For the whole conversation, which Berlanga did to Sheeraz (and Promoter Oscar de la Hoya), he could not support him and was blown up in five rounds. Hubris seemed to be the best of Puerto Rican, who appeared on the stage, winning his first 16 fights in the first round of Nokaut. In September he fought with Alvarez, which turned out to be too early in his career, in a unilateral unanimous loss of decision. He entered this fight full of confidence, but he was dropped three times in front of his home fans. I hope that this humiliating moment for Berlang will bring him to the laboratory to fix the holes in his game. He is talented, but he will have to carry out his restrictions.
Subriel Matias: B-
Matias won the decision for the first time in his career, a strenuous fight against Puello to become a WBC welterweight master. Matias, who entered the fight with 100% knockout to win, certainly tried to add another knockout to his record thanks to the full Puello press. He stayed on the front foot through almost the entire fight, bouncing off each part of the body of Puello. But he began to wear out behind schedule and had to stick to win the narrow majority. If Puello had power, it could be a different result.
Alberto Puello: C+
Puello was forced to cope with the relentless pressure of the artist Matias and almost escaped in his title. He fought the rear foot, knowing the storm and using a acute counter -inchration. He never allowed him to get away from him, going to the first warrior who went to all 12 rounds with Matias. Puello is cunning, but his lack of power eventually interfered with him.
Abdullah Mason (left) and Albert Bell face off ahead of their July 4 WBO Lightweight Championship clash in Cleveland. The all-Ohio showdown between former training partners has become one of boxing’s most compelling matchups of the summer.
On July 4, 2026, Cleveland won’t simply celebrate Independence Day. For one night, it will become the center of the boxing world.
Inside the Wolstein Center, undefeated WBO Lightweight Champion Abdullah Mason will make the first defense of his world title against fellow unbeaten Ohio native Albert Bell in a matchup that has quietly evolved into one of the most compelling fights of the summer.
This isn’t merely champion versus challenger.
It’s Cleveland versus Toledo.
Youth versus experience.
The sport’s newest champion versus one of its most overlooked contenders.
Former training partners become opponents. Two undefeated Ohio fighters are willing to do something boxing doesn’t always reward: face a dangerous man they know.
That alone deserves recognition.
In an era when too many meaningful fights disappear beneath promotional politics, network affiliations, and carefully managed careers, Mason and Bell have chosen competition over convenience. They have given boxing fans exactly the kind of fight the sport consistently says it wants—and too rarely delivers.
Why This Fight Matters
When Joe Cordina was forced to withdraw because of visa complications, many expected Top Rank to secure a more manageable replacement for its newly crowned champion.
Instead, Albert Bell accepted the opportunity.
With one phone call, an ordinary title defense became a genuinely intriguing championship fight.
Bell isn’t an unknown opponent looking for a payday. He’s an undefeated veteran who has spent years waiting for an opportunity worthy of his résumé.
Likewise, Mason isn’t defending his championship against a carefully selected opponent designed to extend his reign. He’s facing a fellow Ohio native who believes this is the moment he’s been preparing for throughout his professional career.
That’s the kind of risk boxing fans continually ask for.
Real stakes.
Real consequences.
Real uncertainty.
Those elements—not manufactured rivalries or promotional slogans—are what make championship boxing special.
Abdullah Mason’s Rise
At just 22 years old, Abdullah Mason already looks like one of boxing’s brightest young champions.
The world title confirms his accomplishments, but it doesn’t fully explain why so many people believe he’s destined for greatness.
His style does.
Mason has quickly developed into one of boxing’s most exciting young boxer-punchers. He combines speed, timing, creativity, accuracy, and finishing instincts in a way that appeals to hardcore boxing enthusiasts and casual fans alike.
He isn’t content to simply outpoint opponents.
He breaks them down.
He creates openings.
He forces mistakes.
And when opportunities present themselves, he finishes the job.
Those qualities have become increasingly rare in modern boxing.
The sport’s biggest stars don’t merely win fights—they give fans a reason to anticipate the next one.
Mason already possesses that quality.
Just as impressive has been his maturity.
Championship expectations can overwhelm young fighters, yet Mason has handled the spotlight with remarkable composure. His development inside the ring has been matched by his poise outside of it, suggesting that the championship has arrived because he was prepared for it—not because he was rushed into it.
That doesn’t mean he’s a finished product.
Far from it.
Like every young champion, there are still lessons to learn and adjustments to make. Experience remains boxing’s greatest teacher, and Mason’s education is only beginning.
That’s precisely what makes his ceiling so fascinating.
From my perspective, Mason has every ingredient necessary to become one of the defining fighters of his generation. He has the athletic ability, the fan-friendly style, the championship mentality, and the personality to become one of the sport’s future faces.
This title defense represents another important step in that journey.
Whether it becomes a routine victory or a career-defining challenge may depend entirely on the man standing across the ring.
Bell’s Long Road
While Mason represents boxing’s future, Albert Bell represents one of boxing’s oldest problems.
Sometimes the most dangerous fighter isn’t the most famous one.
Sometimes he’s the fighter who spent years winning without receiving the opportunities his record deserved.
Bell has lived in that space for much of his professional career.
Tall. Long. Technically disciplined. Undefeated. Difficult to look good against.
Those aren’t always qualities that attract championship opportunities. More often, they’re qualities that make other fighters—and the people guiding their careers—look in another direction.
That’s the harsh reality of boxing.
The sport doesn’t always reward the most deserving contender. It often rewards the most marketable matchup.
Bell has spent years proving he belongs in meaningful conversations while waiting for the kind of opportunity many believed should have arrived much sooner.
His move from junior lightweight to lightweight wasn’t simply a change in weight classes.
It was a reset.
A fresh opportunity to pursue the championship fights that had repeatedly slipped away and to remind the boxing world that his name still belongs among the division’s best.
I’ve followed Albert Bell’s career for years.
I’ve watched him develop from a talented prospect into a polished professional. I’ve watched him consistently win while receiving only a fraction of the attention given to fighters with far less accomplished résumés. And I’ve watched him become one of the sport’s most overlooked contenders—not because of a lack of ability, but because of the difficult style he brings into every fight.
Before going any further, I want to acknowledge Ohio Runs Boxing for its unwavering support of Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell from their amateur days through their rise in the professional ranks.
Ohio Runs Boxing has become one of the state’s most recognizable independent voices, documenting Ohio’s rich boxing tradition while supporting fighters, gyms, and events across the Buckeye State.
Alternative Caption
Known throughout the Midwest boxing community, Ohio Runs Boxing continues to shine a spotlight on Ohio’s fighters, gyms, and grassroots boxing culture.
Its commitment to championing Ohio boxers—past, present, and future—has become one of the state’s most recognizable contributions to the sport. Saturday night’s all-Ohio world championship fight is one of the proudest milestones in that journey.
It’s also a historic moment for my brother Marcus and everyone who has helped build Ohio Runs Boxing into a platform that celebrates the fighters, the gyms, and the culture of boxing throughout our state, and that legacy continues tonight.
Ohio Runs Boxing, indeed.
That kind of commitment matters.
Real support begins long before championship belts, television cameras, and headline events.
It’s built through years of believing in fighters before the rest of the boxing world notices them.
That’s why I don’t see Albert Bell as a late replacement.
I see him as a legitimate championship challenger whose opportunity has finally arrived.
Styles Make Fights
Records introduce a fight.
Styles usually decide it.
That’s what makes this matchup so compelling.
Mason enters as the naturally aggressive boxer-puncher.
His southpaw stance, explosive combinations, quick hands, and offensive instincts allow him to dictate exchanges when he’s fighting on his terms. He excels at creating angles, applying intelligent pressure, and overwhelming opponents before they can settle into a rhythm.
When Mason establishes that tempo early, he’s exceptionally difficult to discourage.
Bell presents a completely different challenge.
His length, patience, timing, and defensive discipline have frustrated opponents throughout his career. He doesn’t need to dominate every exchange to control a fight. Instead, he forces opponents to overreach, become impatient, and make mistakes they wouldn’t normally make.
That style can be incredibly frustrating for aggressive fighters.
Bell’s objective isn’t to match Mason’s activity.
It’s to disrupt it.
He’ll look to establish his jab, manage distance, and force the younger champion to think before committing offensively. If he succeeds, Mason may find himself fighting at a pace that’s unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
Those tactical questions make this far more than a battle between two undefeated records.
Can Mason consistently close the distance without exposing himself to counters?
Can Bell maintain the spacing necessary to neutralize Mason’s explosiveness?
Can youth, speed, and offensive creativity overcome experience, patience, and ring discipline?
Those questions—not promotional narratives or betting odds—will determine who leaves Cleveland with the WBO lightweight championship.
The JuniorTheTruth™ Verdict
I’ve heard plenty of people describe this as another successful title defense waiting to happen.
I don’t see it that way.
This isn’t a showcase.
It isn’t a stay-busy fight.
And it certainly isn’t the type of assignment a young champion should overlook.
To me, this is a genuine 50-50 fight.
That’s not because I doubt Abdullah Mason’s talent.
Quite the opposite.
I believe Mason is one of the most gifted young fighters in boxing today. He has championship ability, tremendous upside, and every opportunity to become one of the defining stars of the next generation.
None of that changes how I view Albert Bell.
For too many observers, Bell has become the fighter whose accomplishments are acknowledged but rarely appreciated. That’s a dangerous mistake.
Length matters.
Experience matters.
Patience matters.
Ring IQ matters.
Those qualities don’t always produce highlight-reel knockouts, but they’ve decided countless championship fights throughout boxing history.
Bell isn’t stepping into this ring hoping to survive twelve rounds.
He’s stepping into it expecting to win.
That confidence isn’t manufactured.
It’s built upon years of preparation, years of waiting, and years of believing this opportunity would eventually arrive.
Mason deserves to be favored.
He’s the champion.
He’s younger.
He’s explosive.
He’s already demonstrated the qualities that suggest he’ll remain at the top of the sport for years to come.
But favorites lose championship fights every year.
Not because they lack talent.
Because styles create problems.
Albert Bell has the style, the experience, and the confidence to present Mason with questions he hasn’t consistently faced at the championship level.
That’s why I reject the idea that this is an easy title defense.
It isn’t.
It’s the kind of fight that reveals exactly how good a champion truly is.
More Than a Championship
The WBO lightweight championship is on the line.
But this fight represents far more than a title belt.
It represents competition.
It represents confidence.
It represents conviction.
Most importantly, it represents two undefeated fighters willing to accept a challenge that many others in today’s boxing landscape might have declined.
For years, fans have voiced the same frustration.
Too many meaningful fights never happen.
Business gets in the way.
Risk outweighs reward.
Careers become carefully managed rather than courageously tested.
Whether by circumstance or intention, Abdullah Mason and Albert Bell have given boxing something refreshingly different.
Uncertainty.
There are no guarantees when the opening bell rings.
No manufactured narratives.
No carefully selected opponent designed to preserve an undefeated record.
Only two highly skilled Ohio fighters are standing across the ring from one another, with everything they’ve worked for hanging in the balance.
That’s what championship boxing is supposed to look like.
Whether you’re cheering for Mason, believing Bell is ready for his moment, or simply hoping to witness a great fight, this matchup deserves far more attention than it has received.
Because, regardless of the outcome, both men are honoring one of boxing’s oldest traditions:
If you want to prove you’re one of the best, eventually you have to fight someone capable of proving you wrong.
Final Bell
Abdullah Mason may very well become one of the defining fighters of his generation.
Albert Bell may finally receive the opportunity many believe should have arrived years ago.
Those two ideas can coexist.
In fact, they’re exactly what makes this fight so compelling.
One man is defending everything he’s earned.
The other is fighting for everything he’s waited to receive.
That’s a dangerous combination.
Championship boxing has always been at its best when certainty gives way to possibility—when reputation collides with hunger, when momentum meets patience, and when talent is forced to answer difficult questions under the brightest lights.
That’s why I refuse to dismiss Albert Bell as simply the next name on Abdullah Mason’s résumé.
And it’s why I refuse to overlook what Mason has already become.
This isn’t a showcase.
It’s an examination.
For Mason, it’s an opportunity to prove that his championship reign is only beginning.
For Bell, it’s the opportunity to show the boxing world that years of being overlooked never diminished his ability—only the attention he received.
When the final bell rings inside the Wolstein Center, one man will leave Cleveland with the WBO lightweight championship.
But regardless of whose hand is raised, both fighters will have reminded the boxing world of something it desperately needs to remember.
Great champions aren’t measured by how carefully they’re protected.
They’re measured by the challenges they’re willing to accept.
On Independence Day, two undefeated Ohio fighters chose challenge over comfort.
In today’s boxing landscape, that’s more than a championship fight.
That’s the new standard.
-JuniorTheTruth™, 2026
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