Top Rank Boxing Confirms Abdullah Mason Opponent Switch

WBO lightweight champ Abdullah Mason’s homecoming in Cleveland now has an all-Ohio storyline. Friday Top Rank Boxing confirmed an opponent switch for Mason's first defense against fellow, unbeaten Ohio lightweight Albert Bell on their July 4th show.

This came after former 130 lb. world champion Joe Cordina of Wales was forced to withdraw because of his arrest there in February and being unable to get a U.S. visa. 

Now, the Toledo native and WBO No. 6-ranked lightweight contender Bell has stepped in for the main event that will headline the TNT Sports and DAZN’s inaugural "The Fight" event, a new monthly live boxing series. at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.

The card will air co-exclusively in the United States on TNT, truTV, and DAZN, with worldwide streaming available on DAZN only.

Mason, 20-0, 17 KOs, said about the change in the Top Rank release,

“New opponent, same mission. Much respect to Albert Bell for stepping in. Everyone, show up to the Wolstein for my title defense. Appetite for smoke!”   Bell said, “The opportunity was presented, I said yes. If you know my story, it’s been a long road.”

Mason gained his title last November in a back and forth battle with fellow unbeaten Sam Noakes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the end he scored a 12 round decision win to become a world champion less than five months shy of his 22nd birthday.

Mason turned pro with Top Rank at 17 in 2021 following an amateur career of approximately 80 fights and surged into title contention in 2025 with three consecutive stoppages. He opened the year with a fourth-round KO of Manuel Jaimes in February, stopped Carlos Ornelas in the sixth round in April, and blasted out Namibian veteran Jeremia Nakathila in the fifth round in June before the Noakes win.  

As for Bell, 28-0, 9 KOs, he was scheduled to face Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist Andy Cruz in an IBF lightweight world title final eliminator on July 18 in Carson, California. Instead, the unbeaten Ohioan now gets his first world title opportunity two weeks earlier against Mason.

The 33-year-old returns following a 10-round unanimous decision over Keith Hunter last August in his hometown.

Bell said in the statement,

“The opportunity was presented, I said yes. If you know my story, it’s been a long road.”

The Mason-Bell card on Independence Day will have WBC featherweight champ Bruce Carrington defending against Rene Palacios in the co-feature. And former U.S. Olympian, Tiger Johnson meeting Christopher Guerrero, as well.