Abdullah Mason Is What Boxing Has Been Waiting For
As someone who grew up in and around Cleveland’s boxing circles, I’ve seen talent come and go. I’ve seen gifted fighters flame out, overhyped names cash checks without putting in the real work, and prospects who never quite lived up to the potential. So when I first heard about the Mason brothers back in 2015—through my best friend Tone, who kept seeing them running Harvard Avenue early in the mornings—I was curious, but cautious. Tone wasn’t just impressed with their dedication; he was inspired. He ran into them one morning at Island Cuisine on Harvard and Warrensville—a Southside staple we both love—and he couldn’t stop talking about how locked-in they were. Polite, serious, humble. The opposite of the cocky, brash wave that was dominating the boxing spotlight at the time. Eventually, he sent me their Instagram page, and right away, I saw what he meant. They were different. Among the brothers, one stood out in every clip: Abdullah Mason . He didn’t say much, but the way h...