Abdullah Mason (21-0, 18 KOs) defended his WBO light-weight title with a Twelfth-round TKO of Albert Bell (28-1, 9 KOs) on Saturday night time at Cleveland State College’s Wolstein Middle, closing out a tough struggle with two knockdowns within the ultimate spherical.
Bell, a Toledo native, stepped in as a late alternative after Joe Cordina withdrew from the bout because of a visa challenge. The matchup marked the primary world title struggle held in Cleveland since 2006, drawing a crowd of 10,101 that included Mason’s hometown supporters.
Mason opened the struggle working behind left and proper palms to the physique, however Bell countered successfully via the early rounds. A conflict of heads within the second spherical opened a lower above Mason’s left eye. Mason elevated his output via the center rounds, mixing jabs with straight left palms earlier than turning his consideration to Bell’s physique within the ninth spherical.
With the struggle shut on the scorecards getting into the ultimate spherical, Mason got here ahead on the opening bell and scored a knockdown. Bell beat the rely, however a second knockdown prompted referee Marc Nelson to cease the competition at 45 seconds of the Twelfth spherical.
“I really feel nice. We had a recreation plan. We have been going to work the physique,” Mason mentioned. “Then they informed me I used to be behind on the playing cards, so I stepped it up and completed the struggle.”
“He’s a terrific opponent. I knew it was going to be a terrific struggle. I simply needed to take my time,” Mason mentioned. “I wish to thank him for stepping in. And thanks, Cleveland.”
Carrington Retains Featherweight Title
Within the co-feature, Brooklyn’s Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (18-0, 10 KOs) retained his WBC featherweight title with a unanimous choice over Mexico’s Rene Palacios (19-1-1, 10 KOs). Carrington labored from a shoulder-roll stance for a lot of the struggle, utilizing hand pace to outland Palacios in most exchanges. Palacios discovered his most important second within the eleventh spherical with a physique shot that damage Carrington, who regained composure behind his footwork to shut out the struggle.
Scores have been 116-112, 117-111 and 118-110, all in favor of Carrington.
“These are the fights that I’ve been wanting,” Carrington mentioned. “There have been some powerful moments, together with the physique shot, however it’s a part of the sport. I wish to unify. I wish to struggle the perfect of the division, and that’s whoever the champions are.”
Undercard Outcomes
Cleveland’s Delante “Tiger” Johnson (18-0, 8 KOs) used a constant jab to regulate Christopher Guerrero (16-1, 9 KOs) over 10 rounds, profitable by scores of 100-92 and 99-91 twice.
“Thanks to Cleveland for popping out,” Johnson mentioned. “I hadn’t fought right here in 10 years. It was a really arduous camp. It means all the pieces to struggle right here. Lots of people don’t know the place I come from. I needed to overcome quite a lot of adversity. Inform Devin Haney to come back see me.”
In different undercard motion, Deric “Scooter” Davis (12-0, 10 KOs) received an eight-round unanimous choice over Carlos Ramos (18-5-1, 10 KOs) by scores of 77-75 and 78-74 twice. Ibrahim Mason (3-0, 3 KOs) stopped Erik Hanley (1-3, 1 KO) at 1:59 of the second spherical in a brilliant featherweight bout, and Abdurrahman Mason (3-0, 2 KOs) defeated Alvaro Huizar Cabral (1-1) by four-round unanimous choice, with all three judges scoring the bout 40-36.
The cardboard streamed on DAZN and aired domestically on TNT.
