Overview
- Abdullah Mason retained his WBO lightweight title by defeating late replacement Albert Bell via a 12th‑round TKO at the Wolstein Center on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
- Referee Mark Nelson stopped the fight 45 seconds into the final round after two knockdowns, a decision that ringside commentators said was premature and that prompted heavy backlash on social media.
- Mason trailed through much of the early rounds before mounting a comeback in the middle rounds and scoring the knockdowns that ended the fight, with judges’ cards showing him ahead entering round 12.
- WBO President Gustavo Olivieri confirmed Joe Cordina still holds the mandatory challenger spot, so the federation’s mandate or negotiations over Cordina’s availability are likely to determine Mason’s next opponent.
- The card was the U.S. debut of TNT/DAZN’s monthly series 'The Fight' and brought renewed national attention to Mason and Cleveland boxing, while the controversial finish is likely to raise renewed scrutiny of officiating and calls for potential rematches.