Abdullah Mason seems destined for greatness.The Cleveland puncher was rated ‘boxing’s top prospect’ by almost every notable publication last year, and is out to prove the hype is real on Saturday night. Mason (19-0, 17 KOs) locks horns with Britain’s Sam Noakes (23-1, 17 KOs) for the vacant WBO lightweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the stacked Ring IV undercard, headlined by David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde.If he is able to get his hand raised, then Mason will become the youngest active male world champion in boxing today.The precocious talent is still only 21 years old.And while some may suggest the opportunity is coming a touch early, Mason would beg to differ.Under the watchful eye of his father and trainer Valiant, the youngster has been working towards his dream since the day he could walk.“The first time I stepped inside the ring, I was nine years old, but before then, my father had me and my brothers in combat sports growing up,” Mason told talkSPORT.com during an exclusive interview.“He moved us around different gyms in Cleveland when we were young. “We moved into a neighbourhood where there was a boxing gym around the corner.“He asked us if any of us wanted to join, and I was the first one to show interest, and then my brothers joined alongside me.”The Mason brothersAbdullah is one of five boxing brothers.GettyMason turned over as a professional at 17 years old[/caption]His siblings Amir (4-1), Adel (3-0), Abdur-Rahman (2-0) and Ibrahim (2-0) are all in the fledgling stages of their professional boxing careers and are his biggest supporters.“We were always close, even now we are close,” Mason said of his brothers.“It felt as if it wasn’t this (boxing), then what would it be? We are all grateful for each other.“Anything we can do together, we will do it together, and boxing is one of those things. They are always backing me.”Turning pro Mason turned over as a professional with Bob Arum‘s Top Rank at 17 years old, off the back of a fruitful 65-15 stint in the unpaid ranks.As an amateur, he scooped the National Junior Championships in 2017, two Junior Opens, two Eastern Regional Opens, and the USA Boxing Youth National title in 2021.Getty17 of his 19 wins have come inside the distance[/caption]While Mason initially had aspirations to represent Team USA at the Olympic Games, changes to the qualification age from 17 to 19 prompted him to ditch the vest early.It proved to be an inspired decision, with Mason taking to the transition like a duck to water, tearing through his first 15 opponents with relative ease.It wasn’t until he met durable Dominican Yohan Vasquez that he experienced genuine adversity for the first time.Mason was dropped twice in the opening stanza but showed remarkable grit and determination to come from behind to stop Vasquez in the second round.Although it is never ideal for a prospect to touch the canvas in a fight they are heavily favoured in, Mason insists the experience was invaluable.“It was a huge learning lesson in a good sense, to where I knew that I needed to dial into my corner and listen to my corner,” Mason added.GettyMason has been rated ‘boxing’s brightest prospect’ by many publications[/caption]“They always tell me to take it slow, watch your opponent and set your point.“And that was the main component that I needed to listen to from my corner.“And once I got that down, everything came together even more.“The fight only added to me as a fighter.”World title opportunity Since the Vasquez fight, Mason hasn’t put a foot wrong.Victories over Manuel Jaimes, Carlos Ornelas and Jeremia Nakathila have seen him rise to No.2 in the WBO rankings, resulting in a subsequent order to face No.1-rated Noakes for the belt Keyshawn Davis was stripped of in June.GettyNoakes is one of Britain’s brightest lightweights[/caption]It marks Mason’s first 12-round fight, and although he expects Noakes to be his toughest test to date, he believes he is better than the Maidstone boxer in every facet of the sport.“Sam Noakes is coming to fight. He is a level above everyone I have fought,” Mason continued.“He has good strength, and he is very durable. He is coming for 12 rounds…“But I see myself being a step ahead in every way. I have the advantage in speed, reflexes and even strength.”