LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 05: Abdullah Mason is victorious as he defeats Jaylan Phillips of their light-weight struggle at Virgin Inns Las Vegas on November 05, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Picture by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc through Getty Photos)
LAS VEGAS – Abdullah Mason didn’t anticipate the nerves to assault that rapidly. The 17-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, wanted a minute or two to search out out it was simply one other struggle, just like the 80 some-odd beginner fights he beforehand had.
As soon as he discovered that rhythm, Mason was tremendous.
The rangy 5-foot-9, southpaw light-weight prodigy started a professional profession tabbed with nice promise with a second-round knockout over Jaylan Phillips on Friday night time from the Virgin Inns Las Vegas in a Prime Rank card televised on ESPN.
“My first expertise was nice, there was a distinct vibe in there and a distinct surroundings and I needed to loosen up extra,” Mason mentioned. “I felt like I wasn’t combating like myself the primary minute. It was totally different working with eight-ounce gloves, against 16-ounce gloves.
“I needed to decide my punches slightly extra. I needed to decide my punches slightly extra and sluggish the struggle down, and be slightly extra correct. I needed to be smarter. My fists felt loads lighter. I’m 135 proper now, and I’m trying to keep at 135 for so long as I can handle it. I’m nonetheless simply 17. I feel I can handle it for just a few extra years.”
On the outset, Mason flicked a very good jab on the outset. Phillips, additionally a southpaw, tried to fight Mason’s aggressive fashion with a jab of his personal. However by the center of the primary spherical, Mason had Phillips (1-1, 1 knockout) retreating. There was a quick burst by Phillips, forcing Mason right into a nook, however the teenager jabbed his manner out of it.
Rowdy Legend Montgomery (R) received by Martez McGregor (L) (Picture by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc through Getty Photos).
Within the second, Mason got here proper out at Phillips, as soon as once more working behind the jab. Phillips tried going to the physique, although was too sluggish for Mason. He opened up within the final seconds of the second, throwing one overhand left after one other, earlier than referee Allen Huggins stepped in to rescue Phillips of any extra punishment at 2:09 of the second.
In a scheduled eight-round junior light-weight bout, Andres Cortes (16-0, 9 KOs) remained undefeated by stopping Mark Bernaldez (23-5, 17 KOs) at 2:12 of the third spherical.
Within the opening bout of the night time, tremendous middleweight Rowdy Legend Montgomery (7-3-1, 5 KOs) stopped Martez McGregor (8-6, 6 KOs) at 1:10 of the third spherical. Middleweight Ian Inexperienced (15-2, 11 KOs) pulled off a gentle upset by handing Tyler Howard (19-1, 11 KOs) his first skilled loss with a unanimous eight-round choice.
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. He might be adopted on twitter @JSantoliquito.
