Abdullah Mason is targeting a December return against William Zepeda or Joe Cordina, with a lightweight unification fight or another defense of his WBO title under consideration.
Mason says nothing is signed, but those are the two names emerging for his next appearance. He is also willing to travel to the UK to face Cordina after being told visa issues prevented the British fighter from meeting him in the summer.
“Right now it’s looking like it could be a unification with Zepeda or a defense with Cordina,” Mason said to Brian Custer’s channel. “That’s what it’s looking like it could be. So I’m definitely ready to face anybody in that position.”
Zepeda would give Mason the opportunity to add the WBC belt and test himself against a pressure fighter who believes he can wear the young champion down. Asked about Zepeda’s claim that he would struggle to last 12 rounds, Mason declined to make a counterprediction.
“Two fighters got to step in the ring to really see how it’s going to go down,” he said.
That would be the harder physical test. Zepeda’s volume would force Mason to decide when to trade and when to use his feet. Mason’s willingness to fight aggressively could make it an action fight, but he would need to avoid letting Zepeda dictate how much work he does every round.
The Cordina option offers a different route, and Mason has no objection to defending on the challenger’s side of the Atlantic.
“If he’s had visa issues in the summer, I’m ready to go over there,” Mason said. “It’s a huge fight card in December in the UK. Why don’t I fight him over there if they can’t come over here?”
Mason did not identify the event or confirm a place on it. His December plans remain a target rather than a completed deal.
“Nothing confirmed, nothing signed off on, but that’s what it’s looking like, and that’s what we’re pushing for.”
Mason’s promoters at Top Rank rarely throw a young fighter into a risky fight when they can take an easier route to build an international footprint. Zepeda represents pure peril right now. His punch output breaks people down, and Top Rank knows Mason is far too young to be taking that sort of physical punishment if it can be delayed.
Letting Zepeda put more miles on the odometer before signing off on a unification makes total promotional sense.
Cordina is the soft landing spot. He gives Mason a recognizable British name to put on the record, introduces the young champion to UK fans on a big DAZN card, and presents minimal stylistic danger. Cordina likes to pick his spots from the outside and does not push a blistering pace, which plays right into Mason’s hands.
It would be a low-risk voluntary defense disguised as a big overseas trip, keeping Mason active, winning, and out of harm’s way while Zepeda’s prime ticks down.
