Abdullah Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) is now rated on the #6 spot in the newest Ring lightweight rankings after his 12-round unanimous decision over Sam Noakes (17-1, 15 KOs) to capture the vacant WBO belt last Saturday night on November 22 at Ring IV in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Mason Breaks Through
Only 21, Mason outbrawled Noakes in what was easily essentially the most entertaining fight on Turki Alalashikh’s loaded card on DAZN PPV. The scores were 115-113, 117-111, and 115-113.
Fans Want Him Higher
Some fans on social media imagine Mason ought to be rated the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, Andy Cruz, William Zepeda, and the IBF belt-holder Raymond Muratalla on the Ring’s updated 135-lb list.
What could also be holding Abdullah back is his age and the struggle that he had beating Noakes. He didn’t dominate that fight and was forced to box as a consequence of the punishment he was taking. The Cuban Cruz and the quantity puncher Zepeda would have been an issue for Noakes as a consequence of their different styles.
The Ring’s Updated Lightweight rankings
- Shakur Stevenson
- Gervonta Davis
- Raymond Muratalla
- William Zepeda
- Andy Cruz
- Abdullah Mason
- Floyd Schofield
- Denys Berinchyk
- Sam Noakes
- Lucas Bahdi
The Ring panel’s placement of the WBC lightweight champion Shakur (24-0, 11 KOs) at #1 is a questionable move because he’s not fought adequate opposition since moving as much as the 135-lb division in 2023. Furthermore, he didn’t impress in his fights against William Zepeda on July 12, 2025, and Edwin De Los Santos on November 16, 2023.
Cruz vs. Eye Test
Going by the attention test, Shakur isn’t #1 material. The diamond at 135 is Andy Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs). He’s looked the very best in his six-fight profession, showing skills, speed, and power that set him aside from everyone in the load class.
The Matchroom-promoted Cruz is fighting IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla next on January 24, 2026, on the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas. It’ll give Cruz, 29, the chance to indicate fans who’ve never seen him before why Nation Vegas rates him because the #1 fighter within the lightweight division.
Nation Vegas’ Rankings
- Andy Cruz
- Floyd Schofield
- William Zepeda
- Abdullah Mason
- Raymond Muratalla
- Gervonta Davis
- Shakur Stevenson
- Sam Noakes
- Denys Berinchyk
- Lucas Baldi
Last Updated on 11/25/2025