Abdullah Mason has officially arrived among the lightweight elite. The unbeaten 21-year-old moved up to No. 6 in The Ring’s latest 135-lb rankings following his hard-fought unanimous decision win over Sam Noakes on November 22 in Riyadh. Mason captured the vacant WBO lightweight title in the process, outlasting Noakes in a thrilling twelve-round war that stole the show on Turki Alalshikh’s Ring IV card.
Mason was forced to box smartly and grit through stretches where Noakes applied heavy pressure. Despite the punishment he absorbed, Mason’s poise and shot selection carried him through the championship rounds, allowing him to secure the biggest win of his young career.
Not all fans agree with his placement, though. Some believe Mason deserves to be ranked higher than Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, volume machine William Zepeda, and IBF titleholder Raymond Muratalla. What may be holding him back, according to critics, is that he didn’t dominate Noakes and was pushed harder than expected. They argue that styles make fights and that Cruz’s slickness or Zepeda’s pressure would have troubled Noakes far more decisively.
The Ring’s updated lightweight top ten places Shakur Stevenson at No. 1, followed by Gervonta Davis, Muratalla, Zepeda, Cruz, and now Mason. Not everyone agrees with Shakur’s top billing. To some, including Nation Vegas, who compiled an alternative ranking, the “eye test” points to Cruz as the true standout at 135, with Mason already breaking into their top four.
Cruz will have his chance to solidify that view when he meets Muratalla on January 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. As for Mason, his breakout win in Riyadh has put him firmly in the conversation.
Learn more about Cruz vs. Muratalla.
Image Credit: The Ring