“I feel like it was definitely a much-needed experience,” Mason said. “That’s not the type of fight you have all the time in your career. It was something I felt like I had to do that night. Every fight is different, and it definitely gave me some insight into how I’ll approach the rest of my career. So, it was a much-needed experience and a great fight.”
Those comments stand out because the Noakes fight was unlike anything Mason had experienced as a professional. After blasting through much of his opposition with his power, he found himself in a grueling battle against a durable contender who refused to wilt under heavy shots. As the fight wore on, Mason abandoned the toe-to-toe exchanges and boxed from the outside over the championship rounds to secure a unanimous decision and capture his first world title.
The performance demonstrated maturity and ring IQ, but it also suggested Mason may have reached an important realization. His power, which had overwhelmed lesser opposition, wasn’t enough to stop Noakes.
Noakes showed Mason that he can’t expect every opponent to fold once he lands clean. When his power wasn’t enough to turn the fight in his favor, he had to rely on his boxing ability to get the win.
The decision also made sense after Mason had been dropped twice by Yohan Vasquez in 2024 before recovering to score a stoppage.
Rather than continuing to take unnecessary punishment with the vacant world title on the line, Mason chose to fight behind his feet and secure the biggest victory of his career against Noakes.
Abdullah, 22, will now make the first defense of his WBO title against the unbeaten Bell after a late opponent switch.
“It was definitely unexpected,” Mason said. “Albert Bell—that’s our guy from Toledo. But it’s boxing. You’ve got to be prepared for anything, and I’m prepared to come out on top. Everything happens for a reason.”
He added: “Boxing is offense, defense and IQ, and you’ve got to put it together and tailor it to the person you’re stepping in the ring with. So, with the opponent switch, I just have to tailor it to the person across the ring from me, and that’s Albert Bell.”
Bell will provide the first test of the lessons Mason says he learned from the Noakes fight. His latest comments suggest he expects the lessons from winning his first world title to influence his approach long after the Bell fight is over.
