Abdullah Mason vs. Jeremia Nakathila:
Mason wins by TKO in the 5th round.
Kelvin Davis vs. Nahir Albright:
Albright wins by MD.
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Tiger Johnson vs. Janelson Figueroa Bocachica:
Johnson wins by UD.
Troy Isley vs. Etoundi Michel William:
Isley wins by UD.
Keon Davis vs. Michael Velez-Garcia:
Davis wins by KO in the 2nd round.
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Euri Cedeno vs. Abel Mina:
Cedeno wins by TKO in the 5th round.
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Deric Davis vs. Naheem Parker:
Davis wins by KO in 3rd round.
Patrick O'Connor vs. Marcus Smith:
O'Connor wins by TKO in 2nd round.
Abdullah Mason has made a name for himself with explosive knockouts and confident poise, but his biggest test yet comes this Saturday at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, where he faces heavy-hitting veteran Jeremia Nakathila in a 10-round main event lightweight bout. The fight airs live on ESPN and ESPN+ and serves as a critical checkpoint for the unbeaten 21-year-old.
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What was slated as Keyshawn Davis’ home-town title defense imploded at Friday’s weigh-in when the WBO lightweight champion tipped the scale at 139.3 lbs - 4.3 over the limit - and Edwin De Los Santos walked. After hours of negotiations on the fine amount, the bout was decided to be cancelled.
"We renegotiated 10 pounds, plus money, but we concluded that Davis never tried to make weight," Lewkowicz told ESPN's Salvador Rodriguez. "He came dancing to the scale. I didn't want what happened to [Devin] Haney and [Ryan] Garcia to happen. We canceled the fight."
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The switch may prove a blessing in disguise. At 20, Mason has built a cult following for his ruthless efficiency and pundits like Tim Bradley call him “a quiet killer.” Nakathila, best known for flattening Miguel Berchelt at 135, carries 21 knockouts of his own and vows to welcome the youngster to world-level turbulence. Their clash remains at lightweight, giving Mason an unexpected proving ground and fans the shoot-out Keyshawn’s tactical style often lacked.
Abdullah Mason: Appetite for the smoke
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Keyshawn’s weight blunder ends his lightweight reign by default; he had already declared this bout would be his 135-lb farewell before moving to 140. With his belt set to become vacant, attention turns to Mason - who could line himself up for a crack at the strap with an emphatic win - and to Raymond Muratalla, newly elevated to full IBF champion after Vasiliy Lomachenko’s retirement.
Watch Keyshawn vs. De Los Santos weigh-in:
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The reshuffled card starts on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, with Kelvin Davis vs Nahir Albright sliding into the co-feature. A six-fight preliminary slate including Tiger Johnson, Troy Isley and others, streams on ESPN+ from 6 p.m. ET.
Norfolk expected a coronation; instead, the city gets a live audition for boxing’s next lightweight menace. If Mason passes Nakathila’s power test, the division’s post-Loma landscape could gain a new, suddenly relevant, contender overnight.
Main card:
▪️Abdullah Mason vs. Jeremia Nakathila, 10 rounds, lightweight
▪️Kelvin Davis vs. Nahir Albright, 10 rounds, super lightweight
Undercard:
▪️Tiger Johnson vs. Janelson Figueroa Bocachica, 10 rounds, welterweight
▪️Troy Isley vs. Etoundi Michel William, 10 rounds, middleweight
▪️Keon Davis vs. Michael Velez-Garcia, 6 rounds, welterweight
▪️Euri Cedeno vs. Abel Mina, 10 rounds, middleweight
▪️Deric Davis vs. Naheem Parker, 6 rounds, lightweight
▪️Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith, 4 rounds, cruiserweight
Watch the press conference here:
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