STWF Sports | LAS VEGAS | Nov. 23, 2025 — Abdullah Mason has arrived. In one of the most electrifying fights of 2025, the 21-year-old phenom defeated previously unbeaten Sam Noakes to capture the vacant WBO lightweight world title, becoming the youngest active male world champion in the sport.
Mason, long hailed as one of boxing’s most explosive young talents, faced his toughest challenge yet on the undercard of David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde. Noakes, a relentless British knockout artist with a reputation for overwhelming opponents, forced Mason into deep waters in a bout many are already calling an instant classic.
The judges scored it 117-111, 115-113, 115-113, all for Mason, after 12 rounds of ferocious exchanges, blood, grit, and world-class craftsmanship.
A Star Emerges on the Biggest Stage
For Mason, the fight represented more than just a title shot. It was an announcement to the boxing world that the future is now. Fans and pundits had tabbed him as the sport’s top prospect entering 2025 — and he proved every word true under the brightest lights.
From the opening bell, the Cleveland southpaw showcased his trademark precision. His timing, footwork, and fluid shot selection lit up the first round, though Noakes made it clear early he was willing to walk through fire to impose his pressure.
The second saw Noakes charge forward, backing Mason to the ropes, but the American responded with a slick pivot and a sharp combination that snapped the Briton’s head back. It was the first sign that Mason’s ring IQ could neutralize Noakes’ raw aggression.
Momentum Shifts and Blood Drawn
The third round delivered one of the bout’s pivotal moments. Mason cracked Noakes with a beautifully timed left hand that drew gasps from the crowd — and blood from Noakes’ eye. Ringside doctors determined the cut was caused by a head clash, allowing the fight to continue, but the damage visibly affected the British contender’s vision.
Still, Noakes fought like a man unwilling to surrender. He rallied in the fifth with a booming right hand that would’ve folded lesser fighters. Mason absorbed it, reset, and answered in kind — a warning that he wouldn’t be bullied or broken.
As the middle rounds unfolded, the fight transformed into a breathtaking back-and-forth chess match. Noakes’ seventh-round body shot momentarily halted Mason’s momentum, forcing the young American to grit his way through adversity. Yet in the eighth, Mason returned fire with vicious combinations to the body and head, pushing Noakes onto the back foot for the first time.
A Thriller Down the Stretch
The tenth round produced pure chaos — a two-way shootout where both fighters landed thudding power shots. Mason appeared close to scoring a knockdown late, wobbling Noakes, but the Briton somehow stayed upright, drawing massive applause inside the arena.
Turki Alalshikh, seated ringside, leapt to his feet as the pair entered the final round trading bombs. The twelfth was a spectacular display of heart and ambition from both men, the kind of round that cements a fight in the year’s “Fight of the Year” discussion.
Ultimately, Mason’s sharp accuracy, superior movement, and championship composure carried the scorecards.
A New Era at Lightweight
With the victory, Mason not only adds his name to the list of world champions — he may also have ushered in a new era. At just 21 years old, with dazzling skill and unquestionable toughness, the American prodigy now stands as one of boxing’s brightest emerging stars.
The lightweight division, already one of the sport’s deepest, has a new and dangerous force at the top.
Fans demanded a breakout moment for 2025. Abdullah Mason delivered — and may have become boxing’s next global superstar in the process.
