Abdullah Mason Cracks Ring’s Top Six After Brutal War With Noakes

Abdullah Mason (20-0, 17 KOs) is now rated at the #6 spot in the latest 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 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 believe Mason should 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 may 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 due to the punishment he was taking. The Cuban Cruz and the volume puncher Zepeda would have been a problem for Noakes due to their different styles.

The Ring’s Updated Lightweight rankings

1. Shakur Stevenson
2. Gervonta Davis
3. Raymond Muratalla
4. William Zepeda
5. Andy Cruz
6. Abdullah Mason
7. Floyd Schofield
8. Denys Berinchyk
9. Sam Noakes
10. 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 good enough opposition since moving up to the 135-lb division in 2023. Moreover, 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 eye test, Shakur isn’t #1 material. The diamond at 135 is Andy Cruz (6-0, 3 KOs). He’s looked the best in his six-fight career, showing skills, speed, and power that set him apart from everyone in the weight class.

The Matchroom-promoted Cruz is fighting IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla next on January 24, 2026, at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Las Vegas. It’ll give Cruz, 29, the opportunity to show fans who have never seen him before why Nation Vegas rates him as the #1 fighter in the lightweight division.

Nation Vegas’ Rankings

1. Andy Cruz
2. Floyd Schofield
3. William Zepeda
4. Abdullah Mason
5. Raymond Muratalla
6. Gervonta Davis
7. Shakur Stevenson
8. Sam Noakes
9. Denys Berinchyk
10. Lucas Baldi