Unexpected headliner: Nakathila Falls to rising Star Mason

Boxing
Nakathila sustained a deep cut above his left eye and informed the ringside doctor he could no longer see clearly.
Brian Munango
  • 10 Hours Ago
Namibian boxer Jeremiah Nakathila suffered a tough defeat on Sunday morning (Namibian time) as he was stopped by America’s fast-rising star Abdullah Mason in a lightweight bout at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.



The 35-year-old Nakathila, who left for the USA on 1 June, had spoken confidently in the build-up to the fight, describing it as “another great opportunity” and highlighting his intense preparation since arriving in the States. The bout marked Nakathila’s fifth time fighting in the USA — more than any other Namibian boxer at this level — underscoring his growing experience on the international stage.



“I am super excited about this one because I live for such moments as a boxer,” Nakathila said before the fight. “This is obviously going to be a big one for me and for Namibia at large, and my aim is to secure a victory.”



But it was not to be. Mason, just 21 years old and unbeaten, proved too slick, too strong, and too precise. The southpaw from Ohio used his trademark left hand to good effect, peppering Nakathila’s body early and opening a cut above the Namibian’s left eye that would eventually end the contest. The ringside physician stopped the fight just one second into the sixth round after Nakathila reported he could no longer see out of the damaged eye.



With this win, Mason — now 18-0 with 17 knockouts — continued his meteoric rise in the lightweight division. Originally scheduled as a co-feature, the fight was bumped to main event status after Keyshawn Davis was stripped of his WBO lightweight title for failing to make weight for his bout with Edwin De Los Santos. That cancellation left the spotlight on Mason and Nakathila, and the young American did not disappoint.



Despite the setback, Nakathila’s fighting spirit remains undiminished. With a professional record of 26-4 (21 KOs), he has built a respected career as one of Namibia’s most seasoned and daring fighters, never afraid to test himself against top-tier opposition on foreign soil.



Mason, meanwhile, may now be in line for a shot at the vacant WBO lightweight title — a possibility he was quick to embrace post-fight.



“We had to get Nakathila out the way first, and now we about to see what we can make happen,” Mason told the media. “We heading towards those titles.”



While the result didn’t go Namibia’s way, Nakathila’s appearance once again placed Namibian boxing on the global map, and fans back home will be hopeful that the veteran warrior still has more fights left in him.