Abdullah Mason is ready for his next test, going up against the power-punching veteran Jeremia Nakathilia in their 10-round lightweight co-feature fight this Saturday, June 7th at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
Nakathila’s Dangerous Power Threat
Top Rank is putting the four-year pro Mason (18-0, 16 KOs) in a contest againt Nakathila (26-4, 21 KOs) that will show whether he’s ready to challenge for a world title. Nakathilia had Shakur Stevenson on the run when they fought in 2021. He nailed Shakur with a big shot early, which made him get on his bike and stay on the move for the remainder of the contest.
Keyshawn Davis Confronts Mason
WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis confronted Mason during Thursday’s press conference, daring him to face him next. It was a move by the champion Keyshawn to humiliate the 21-year-old Abdullah in front of the fans and the media, and it may have worked.
Mason now seems angry about what occurred, and he’s calling Davis’ bluff, wanting to face him next. That potentially could be a disaster for Keyshawn.
He’ll look silly if he doesn’t go through with his offer to face Mason. He already made himself look chicken by saying yesterday that he won’t fight a unification match against IBF 135-lb champion Raymond Muratalla because he doesn’t want to pay an extra sanctioning fee. Fans didn’t buy that excuse, nor did they believe that he’d sent an offer to Andy Cruz that he supposedly turned down.
“He lets his hands go; he’s got power behind his punches, but I’m making sure I’m staying tight inside the ring, looking out for his offense. But I’m coming to do everything I’ve been doing,” said Abdullah Mason to Fighthype about his fight this Saturday against Jeremia Nakathila in Norfolk, Virginia.
Mason is going to have to be careful of Nakathilia’s power because he’s a bigger puncher than Yohan Vasquez, the fighter that dropped him twice in the first round last year. Nakathilia could do serious damage if he caught Abdullah with the same shots that Vasquez dropped him with.
Abdullah Mason Challenges Davis
“I’m willing to take that next,” said Mason about a fight against WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis. “I worked my way up to #2. Whoever is sitting there on the title when I’m working my way up, I’m working to prepare for that person. Keyshawn is right there. He’s the one who has the title. He’s the one I’m ready to fight.”
It’s doubtful that ‘The Businessman’ Keyshawn would take a fight against Mason, because he’s making sure that he picks his opponents carefully, ensuring that the win is in the bag ahead of time. Davis is focusing on fighters who are well-known and have an established fan base behind them.
He wants Teofimo Lopez or Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. However, Top Rank won’t be able to deliver either of those fighters because it would be too costly. Still, Keyshawn wouldn’t want to fight Abdullah because it’s too high work, low reward for him.
Again, he’s treating his career like a business, focusing on safe choices. The money that Davis would get fighting Teofimo would make the risk worth it. He wouldn’t get that kind of dough fighting Mason, and there’s a good chance he’ll lose.
Davis’s Jealousy Flares at Presser
“I was expecting him to say something, but I could read his energy,” said Abdullah about him feeling the negative vibes from Davis at the final press conference last Thursday. “I could tell something was off, and he was going to say something. I knew when I saw him that his energy was off. I couldn’t read his mind, but I could definitely read his energy.”
Obviously, Keyshawn was threatened by Abdullah’s presence on the stage with him. Mason was receiving too much praise from the moderator, Christina Poncher, and this was supposed to be his show. Having Mason given the red carpet treatment and upstaging him even before their fights on Saturday, it was too much for Keyshawn to take. He lost control, being put in a position where he was the second fiddle.
There’s a good chance Mason is going to steal the show on Saturday with his performance against Nakathilia. His fights are more entertaining than Keyshawn’s due to his one-punch power and the way his contests end suddenly by knockout.
Mason Demands Keyshawn Title Shot
“I’m next in line. I’m coming up. I’m ranked #2. So, he felt that pressure, and he felt he had to say something. That’s the reason he called me out. I’m focused on Nakathilia. Keyshawn called me out. So, you know there’s pressure there. Why not? He definitely should, and I’m prepared to take that offer,” said Abdullah when asked if he thinks Davis was serious about calling him out, and if he believes he’ll send an offer for a fight.
Mason is ranked #2 in the WBO’s rankings at lightweight, behind #1 Sam Noakes. However, that doesn’t mean Keyshawn is going to stick around at 135 and fight him. He’s talking about moving up to 140, and it’s doubtful that he’ll purposefully select Abdullah for a voluntary defense before he leaves the division. Keyshawn is too calculated to take a fight against him.
“Whatever works. I’m just ready to step in there with whoever has that championship belt,” said Mason when asked if he’d be willing to fight Keyshawn in his hometown of Norfolk. “So, he’s the one holding the belt at the time. So, whatever has to be worked out, it’ll be worked out for me to step in and grab the title.”
If Davis vacates his WBO title, it’ll be Mason fighting Noakes for the vacant belt. That would be a near-guarantee win for Abdullah against that guy, who is nowhere near the talent that he is.
Keyshawn’s Bluff Faces Exposure
“If we step in there, I’m going to come out with the title. I’m ready for it. Absolutely, it could. Let’s make it happen. Why not?” said Mason when asked if he’ll fight Keyshawn next if he sends a contract after their bouts this Saturday.
You can tell that Abdullah is bothered by the way Keyshawn tried to shame him yesterday. When he did that, he must have assumed that Mason would put his tail between his legs and run away for good. The opposite has happened. It angered him, and now he’s determined to go after Keyshawn next. It’s putting him in a spot where he’ll need to back up his offer of giving Mason a title shot now or else he’ll be exposed as having done this just for show.
“I’m working my way up to grab a title. I’m working my way up for a reason. He’s right there in front of me. Nothing personal. It’s all business,” said Mason about it not being personal between him and Keyshawn.
Last Updated on 06/06/2025
