Abdullah Mason Shines in Main Event Debut, Stops Nakathila in Five

Abdullah Mason lived up to his promise to steal the spotlight—and he did just that.

The 21-year-old lightweight sensation delivered a commanding performance Saturday night at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, stopping Jeremia Nakathila in the fifth round to retain his NABO and NABF titles. Originally the co-feature, the bout was elevated to the main event after Keyshawn Davis was forced off the card for failing to make weight.

Fighting in his first headlining slot, the unbeaten Cleveland native (19-0, 17 KOs) took control early, using his lead right hand to measure distance before landing clean lefts. Nakathila (26-5, 21 KOs) looked to land his trademark right, but Mason found his rhythm by the third, closing the distance with sharp lefts and right hooks and going to the body with authority.

After a dominant fourth round that saw Nakathila repeatedly stunned, the ringside physician stopped the fight before the start of the fifth.

“It was a great fight,” said Mason. “I knew he had power, so I took my time and broke him down. We want to move toward those titles. Anything that can be worked out, I’m willing to make it happen.”

Albright Spoils Davis’ Norfolk Homecoming

In the co-main event, Philadelphia’s Nahir Albright (17-2, 7 KOs) scored a majority decision win over local favorite Kelvin Davis (15-1, 8 KOs), handing the Norfolk native his first professional loss.

Albright, who previously went the distance with Keyshawn Davis in a controversial bout that was later ruled a no contest, came back to settle the score—this time against Keyshawn’s older brother.

The 29-year-old set the tone early with crisp right hands that repeatedly snapped Davis’ head back. Davis rallied in the middle rounds, managing to cut Albright above the right eye, but Albright remained composed and continued landing clean right hands through the later rounds.

Scorecards read: 95-95, 97-93, and 96-94 in favor of Albright.

Undercard Highlights

Welterweight: U.S. Olympian Tiger Johnson (16-0, 7 KOs) outboxed Janelson Bocachica (17-4-1, 11 KOs) over 10 rounds in a dominant decision win. Johnson controlled the pace and range, frustrating Bocachica, who failed to close the distance. Scores: 100-90, 97-93, and 98-92.

Middleweight: Troy Isley (15-0, 5 KOs) retained his NABO title with a unanimous decision over Etoundi Michel William (16-2, 12 KOs). Isley landed the more telling blows but couldn’t finish off the evasive William. Scores: 98-92, 96-94 (twice).

Welterweight: Keon Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) thrilled the home crowd with a second-round knockout of previously unbeaten Michael Velez (3-1, 2 KOs). A punishing left to the body ended the fight at 2:22.

Middleweight: Euri Cedeño (12-0-1, 11 KOs), a Dominican Olympian, extended his knockout streak to five with a fifth-round TKO over Ecuador’s Abel Mina (18-4-1, 9 KOs). Mina retired on his stool after sustained punishment.

Lightweight: Deric Davis (7-0, 7 KOs), training out of Headbangers Boxing Gym in D.C., dropped Naheem Parker (5-3, 2 KOs) with a brutal body shot at the end of round two for the KO.

Cruiserweight: In his pro debut, Patrick O’Connor (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Marcus Smith (2-2, 2 KOs) in the second round with a body assault. Time of stoppage: 2:03.