With his shoulders covered in the maple leaf, he strikes a pose. The lyrics of Mes Aïeux welcome him into the arena of the Videotron Centre. Despite appearances, Abdullah Mason is indeed American. But if he fulfills all the promises made about him, fans of La Belle Province should know him before long.
Mason is the new nugget of Top Rank, a promoter in cahoots with the Quebec group Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM). Saturday, for the first time in his career, the 20-year-old boxer fought outside his country. Despite his little experience, one would think he holds a doctorate in seducing international crowds.
When he arrived in Quebec, Mason asked the tournament organizers to suggest some Quebec songs to which he could walk to the arena. Degenerations of My Ancestors finally fell into his ears.
“I found it very important to find a way to connect with people,” he says, after winning a quick fight. “Quebecers are really nice, I wanted to show them that I appreciated their support.”
All that matters
The gala organizers wanted to make sure Mason found a track he liked. So their suggestions spanned all genres. They ranged from rap, with Loud and Koriass, to pop, with hits by Céline Dion, and even other Quebec classics, like those by Cowboys Fringants. They never would have believed that by the end of the exercise, Degenerations would be crowned.
Mason didn’t choose this title because he dreams of having his own little plot of land or a big table surrounded by children. By carefully reading the lyrics of the proposed songs, he opted for the one that referred to family.
Because the Masons, they are inseparable. When he answers questions from the media, Abdullah is surrounded by his four brothers, Amir, Adel, Abdur-Rahman and Ibrahim. Aged 17 to 28, they all fight. So much so that in the milieu, they are now nicknamed the Jackson Five of boxing.
PHOTO VINCENT ÉTHIER, PROVIDED BY EYE OF THE TIGER MANAGEMENT
Abdullah Mason last Saturday in Quebec
Like the group, it was the father of the family, Valiant Mason, who taught them the ABCs of the sport and dictated their careers. The father raised his children in Bedford, an industrial suburb near Cleveland.
Valiant ran a modest perfume shop there. His limited income was largely devoted to the travel expenses of his children, who were making their mark in combat sports.
The three older brothers first learned the basics of karate, taekwondo and jujitsu. They then passed on their knowledge to their younger brothers.
At one point, the family moved to Yemen and Egypt. It was at this time that Abdullah was introduced to boxing. If his brothers had passed on to him a love of martial arts, it was now his turn to teach them boxing.
Unlimited potential
All five now have professional fights. When Abdullah is asked if there is a better prospect in the boxing world than him, he doesn’t hesitate for a second.
“I have four brothers fighting,” he says, pointing at them. “You’ll probably see them on my cards soon.”
Abdullah may be 20 years old, but unlike Aznavour, he does not precede any conversation with him. Especially when it comes to praising his brothers. This is clear, since among them, some have been inactive for quite a while. With the exception of Ibrahim, who is just 18, no major hope is placed in them.
It’s quite the opposite for Abdullah. He already has 15 wins, 13 of them by KO, and no defeats. All this, in less than three years of professional activity.
Eventually, I think it could be a superstar.
Camille Estephan, promoter of Eye of the Tiger Management
His own promoter, Top Rank’s Bob Arum, is full of praise for him. “He could be one of the greatest of all time,” he said in a recent interview. “All the ingredients are there.”
In Quebec, Mason gave us a hard time. His fight started at the same time as the press conference of the Quebec fighter Leïla Beaudoin. Less than two full rounds later, he was finished by KO, so much so that it was impossible for us to attend.
Forced to rely on the recovery, we see that Mason settled the case of his opponent, Mike Ohan Jr., with a left-right combination, punctuated by a hook to the head.
“I landed several left punches to the body. He was a little surprised that my punches landed so cleanly,” says Mason, who would probably have been more disheveled after a ride on the Galeries de la Capitale.
PHOTO VINCENT ÉTHIER, PROVIDED BY EYE OF THE TIGER MANAGEMENT
Abdullah Mason and Mike Ohan Jr.
Since turning pro in 2021, Mason has averaged five fights per year. He is expected to get a fourth in 2024, in November.
“I feel better every time. The experience is good for me,” says the cherub-faced boxer.
As he continues to add to his profile, the left-hander is already dreaming of big fights.
“I’m waiting to move up to 10-round fights against the headliners. Hopefully in 2025 I can fight for a title,” he said.
One thing is certain, if his progress continues, Abdullah Mason is not likely to spend his life in a “little three and a half, way too expensive, cold in winter”.