Abdullah Mason vs. Jaimes: Chin concerns and cautious pairing in February

Lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason will return in February against Manuel Jaimes on a Top Rank card. It’s not a compelling matchup for the 20-year-old Mason, but it’s predictable after his last disappointing performance.

Mason against Jaimes: a step back?

Mason (16-0, 14 KOs) takes a step back with this fight against Jaimes (16-2-1, 11 KOs) after his shaky performance against the veteran. Yohan Vasquez on November 8 at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Mason was knocked down twice in the first round by 30-year-old Dominican Republic native Vasquez (26-6, 21 KOs). It was fortunate for Mason that Vasquez suffered a knee injury in the first round.

Boxing Scene reports that Mason will next fight San Jose, California native Manuel Jaimes.

For those two who follow the sport closely, you know Jaimes as the guy that former WBA light welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero recently defeated via 10-round unanimous decision on September 14 on the Canelo Alvarez undercard vs. Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Rolly-Jaimes was buried on the card in fifth place in the main event. Rolly uses Jaimes as a confidence booster after losing his WBA 140-pound title to Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz via eighth-round knockout on March 30.

Manuel Jaimes was no competition for Rolly, who surpassed him in boxing and punching. It looked like Romero carried him because he could hit him, but he seemed to stay in top gear throughout the entire ten-round contest to get some rounds going. The scores were 99-91, 99-91 and 99-91.

Mason vs. Jaimes could fight on the undercard of lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis’ upcoming card, as he is expected to challenge WBO champion Denys Berinchyk in February.

The chin issue

Top Rank will have to figure out how to protect Abdullah Mason from being knocked out before he fights for a world title. Floyd Schofield Sr. recently revealed that Mason was injured in a sparring match with his son, Schofield Jr., and believes he has a chin problem.

The fight with Vásquez would confirm it. If Mason’s punch resistance continues to be an issue, Top Rank will have to steer him in the direction of a weak puncher like Shakur Stevenson and hope he can handle the WBC champion’s precise punches.