Boxing
Mason open to 'career-defining' Zepeda unification encounter
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Abdullah Mason admits a bout against William Zepeda would be "career-defining" as the star continues to build at lightweight.
The WBO champion secured a late stoppage against Albert Bell last month in his first title defence since edging Sam Noakes.
Since then, Mexican star Zepeda realised his own world-level destiny by capturing the WBC crown against Lamont Roach Jr..
Such success naturally puts both men into each other's orbit - and now Mason has acknowledged he would be keen to meet.
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“That would be a career-defining fight for me at this point,” he told The PorterWay Podcast on a potential unification showdown.
"He has everything that somebody would want to see me face. He’s strong on the front foot, a volume puncher, he uses his head.
"It would definitely be a step up from any fight that I ever had before. The Sam Noakes fight was a crazy fight, an amazing fight.
"Me being able to implement everything that I’ve learned, it will show where I’m at in [...] facing Zepeda, coming off a great win.”
Is Mason-Zepeda the bout to make?
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
Abdullah Mason has never been shy about his ambitions - but it is telling that he considers William Zepeda to be a litmus test.
Twenty-three next April, the American is one of the youngest world champions on the scene, and may remain for years to come.
That means he has the time to grow and further cement his stature - something he could well do with a bout versus the Mexican.
Raymond Muratalla would be another option, of course, with the IBF belt under his hands. But Zepeda seems an intriguing pick.
Whether the governing bodies clear a pathway is one thing, as is the latter's own interest. Yet Mason clearly wants to go big now.
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