Mason Wins WBO Lightweight Title by Decision

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night, 21-year-old American boxer Abdullah Mason claimed the vacant WBO lightweight title with a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over England's Sam Noakes at the ANB Arena. The scores from the judges were 115-113, 117-111, and 115-113, marking Mason's first world championship and extending his undefeated professional record to 20-0 with 17 knockouts. Noakes, who entered the bout unbeaten at 17-0 with 15 knockouts, suffered his first professional loss.

The 12-round contest tested Mason in ways his previous fights had not, as it was the first time the Cleveland native had gone beyond six rounds in his career. A southpaw known for his speed and precision, Mason started aggressively, landing a combination and left uppercut in the third round that dazed Noakes. An accidental clash of heads in that round opened a cut above Noakes' left eye, but the British fighter pressed forward with relentless pressure, cutting off the ring and landing heavy hooks and body shots to close the distance.

Noakes, a 28-year-old former roofer from Maidstone, Kent, who held regional titles including the British, Commonwealth, European, and WBO International...