After former world champion Joe Cordina was forced to withdraw due to a visa issue after he was charged with assault in Cardiff, Wales, unbeaten Toledo native and WBO No. 6-ranked contender Albert Bell has stepped in to challenge Abdullah Mason for his WBO lightweight world title on Saturday, July 4, at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.
Mason-Bell headlines TNT Sports and DAZN’s inaugural The Fight event, a new monthly live boxing series.
Mason said, “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 (20-0, 17 KOs) completed one of boxing’s fastest recent climbs last November, dominating previously unbeaten Sam Noakes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to become a world champion less than five months shy of his 22nd birthday. Mason turned pro 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 knockout 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.
Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) 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.
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