Chris Mannix Rejects Bob Arum’s Sugar Ray Leonard Comparison For Abdullah Mason

Mannix says the 22-year-old WBO lightweight champion has obvious talent but believes defensive flaws make comparisons to Sugar Ray Leonard premature

Chris Mannix believes Bob Arum has moved far too quickly by comparing Abdullah Mason to Sugar Ray Leonard. While praising Mason’s talent and resolve, Mannix argues the young lightweight still has significant defensive issues to correct before entering conversations alongside boxing’s all-time greats.

“It’s lofty praise, of course,” Mannix said on his channel, reacting to Bob Arum’s comment about Mason being the next Sugar Ray Leonard. “I think it’s very premature. Sugar Ray was an Olympic gold medalist before doing all the things he did in the pros. Abdullah Mason was a good fighter in the amateurs. Didn’t have anywhere near the accolades.”

Mannix pointed to Mason’s tendency to lean in on his punches and leave himself open for counters, saying those habits would prove costly against elite opposition.

“The mistakes Abdullah Mason makes, they’re going to cost him against a good counter puncher,” Mannix said. “There’s so much he’s got to clean up before we can start talking about him on that kind of level.”

Mannix’s caution is understandable.

Although Mason showed tremendous resolve by rallying to stop Bell, he also spent much of the fight getting outboxed by a replacement opponent. Mannix said Bell deserved five of the first six rounds and criticized the judges who had the fight even after six.

The Bell fight wasn’t the first time Mason has shown vulnerabilities. He was dropped twice by Yohan Vasquez before scoring a stoppage victory, had difficult moments against Sam Noakes, and again had to rely on his power and determination to turn the tide against Bell.

Those are not the type of performances that drew comparisons to Leonard early in his career.

Leonard looked like a future superstar almost from the moment he turned professional. While he was still facing developmental opposition at the same age, he consistently dominated rounds with his speed, footwork, defense and ring IQ. Mason has shown championship heart and legitimate punching power, but he has also displayed defensive lapses that elite lightweights are likely to exploit.

Mason has plenty of time to improve at just 22 years old. But based on what he has shown so far, Mannix’s advice to slow down the Sugar Ray Leonard comparisons appears well founded.

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