The WBO is poised this week to order unbeaten lightweight contenders Abdullah Mason and U.K.’s Sam Noakes to meet for the 135lbs title left vacant by overweight and stripped former champion Keyshawn Davis, BoxingScene has learned.
Cleveland’s Mason, 19-0 (17 KOs), affirmed his position as the WBO’s No. 2-ranked contender by stopping veteran contender Jeremia Naskathila, ranked 11th by the sanctioning body, Saturday night on ESPN when the 35-year-old failed to answer the fifth-round bell in the replacement main event for Davis’ scrapped defense against Edwin De Los Santos.
At 21, Mason carries glowing promise given his skill and power, and he’s the expected betting favorite over the 27-year-old Noakes, 17-0 (15 KOs).
Noakes, the WBO’s top-rated contender who has compiled nine bouts since March 2022, most recently fought May 10 in Nottingham, England, stopping Patrick Balaz in a 140lbs bout.
While De Los Santos was in position to fight for the belt if he had chosen to meet the four-plus-pounds-overweight Davis (13-0) Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia, he declined because of the weight disparity.
That doesn’t entitle him to the title fight now, however, because Davis selected De Los Santos as the WBO’s 14th-ranked contender, and the sanctioning body is opening the title bout to its highest-ranked contenders.
Mason and Noakes will have 30 days to strike a deal for their title bout.