Abdullah Mason vs Jeremia Nakathila Predictions: Is Mason boxing’s hottest prospect?

The eternal struggle to give Abdullah Mason a test continues with Namibia's fringe contender Jeremia Nakathila this Saturday, June 7. The Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia hosts the bout, which serves as chief support to Keyshawn Davis vs Edwin De Los Santos. ESPN+ will screen the card in the UK, while a UK broadcaster has not been announced after Top Rank’s deal with Sky Sports expired.

Here are my Abdullah Mason vs Jeremia Nakathila predictions ahead of this lightweight attraction.

Abdullah Mason vs Jeremia Nakathila Odds

Mason is way out in front at 1/33 here, high praise for his highly-rated skills. Nakathila is 10/1, a symptom of some big knockout losses. The draw is 20/1.

Abdullah Mason vs Jeremia Nakathila Fight Preview

After scoring a number of youth titles as an amateur, Mason’s switch to the pro ranks has thrilled boxing fans. 18-0 at the age of 21, the Ohio southpaw has scored 16 knockouts. Despite his tender years, Mason is already ranked by three of the main sanctioning bodies, including top-five placings with the WBC and WBO.

But it is the manner in which Mason has risen that has captured the zeitgeist. In a world where fans are bemoaning safety-first boxing and treating gifted defensive fighters with scorn; Mason is going out there and using his skills to score knockouts.

But Mason is not your average slugger who is short on technical skill. His knockouts are elegantly set-up. The youngster can box incredibly well in the pocket, shoulder-rolling out of trouble from his southpaw stance before unleashing bombs. 

Mason is not a flat-track bully. He has had his share of tricky opponents and a little bit of adversity. Yohan Vasquez lived up to his ‘La Fiera’ nickname as he lit Mason up in the first round of their 2024 scrap. Mason hit the deck twice in that round, before rallying to take his man out the second. This one was well worth a watch. A classic fight you can fit into your coffee break.

You would have forgiven those in the Mason business, namely Bob Arum and Top Rank, for pumping the brakes a little. Acknowledging that their man had been troubled. But pressure makes diamonds and Mason has already fought twice since, with Saturday’s bout his fourth in seven months.

Since Vasquez taught him a couple of lessons, Mason has mixed in good company. Manuel Jaimes had just taken Rolly Romero the full 10 rounds. Mason had him out in round four. Mexico’s Carlos Ornelas had gone the distance with current WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza in the past, but the Ohio prodigy had him down three times before stopping him in the sixth.

Mason is still only 21, so Top Rank have not gone and got him a killer for Saturday’s fight. But they have given him a step-up in class in Nakathila. The Namibian’s biggest fight came in a points loss to Shakur Stevenson for the WBO interim title back in 2021. 

Nakathila has been operating on the fringes of the world scene ever since. There have been some good wins. Nakathila dropped and stopped former WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt in six rounds while he has gone 4-0 in fights taking place in his homeland since the Stevenson defeat.

But there have been losses in recent years too. Two of boxing’s can’t-miss prospects used him as a stepping stone in similar fashion. Raymond Muratalla and Ernesto Mercado knocked him out in the second round in back-to-back fights. Those two remain unbeaten today and Muratalla is the current interim IBF king. These were no mugs. But the quick nature of the knockouts does raise concerns.

Many pundits are more excited by Mason than Muratalla. I count myself among their number. There is an ease of motion, confidence and indefatigable spirit about Mason that most boxers his age do not yet possess. His maturity against Vasquez was every bit as impressive as the thrashings he has dolled out. 

Abdullah Mason vs Jeremia Nakathila Full Card

Keyshawn Davis vs Edwin De Los Santos

Abdullah Mason vs. Jeremia Nakathila

Kelvin Davis vs. Nahir Albright

Tiger Johnson vs. Janelson Bocachica

Troy Isley vs. Etoundi Michel William

Keon Davis vs. Michael Velez-Garcia 

Euri Cedeno vs. Abel Mina

Deric Davis vs. Naheem Parke

Patrick O'Connor vs. Marcus Smith

Abdullah Mason vs Jeremia Nakathila Prediction

The two rounds it took Muratalla and Mercado might be a bit simplistic a pick here. While I do rate Mason above those two, you’d think that Nakathila will surely start more cautiously. He is an aggressive customer but he must have learned something.

I think Nakathila has, but perhaps not much. I am going to go for Mason to take this in round five at 8/1, allowing for the underdog to have brought a smidgen of self-preservation into his game. 

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.