by Keith Idec

ABDULLAH MASON made believers Friday night out of those who wondered what would happen when the highly touted lightweight prospect took flush punches from a powerful opponent.

The 20-year-old southpaw from Cleveland survived two flash knockdowns in the first round, dropped rugged Dominican Yohan Vasquez twice and stopped him in the second round of their scheduled 10-round lightweight bout on the Keyshawn Davis-Gustavo Lemos undercard at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Referee Brent Bovell stopped the action at 1:59 of the second round after Mason’s left to Vasquez’s body sent him to one knee with 1:10 to go in the second round.

Mason improved to 16-0 and produced his 14^th knockout once Vasquez failed to make it to his feet in time after absorbing that well-placed body shot. Vasquez (26-6, 21 KOs), who resides in the Bronx, lost inside the distance for the second time in 12 years as a pro and for the second time in his past three fights.

“My dad told me he was gonna come out like that, but man, that was something else,” Mason told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel after winning their firefight. “You know, it was an experience, but it was exciting and I like that, you know? We pushed through it and did what we had to do. We gave the fans a great show, you know? But ‘Prospect of the Year.’ That’s me.”

Vasquez surprised Mason and his handlers when his sweeping left hook knocked Mason into a squatting position and caused his left glove to hold him up 48 seconds into the opening round. Mason responded by landing a left uppercut that knocked Vasquez flat on his back with 1:39 on the clock in the first round.

While trying to finish Vasquez, however, another short, left hook by his vulnerable opponent again knocked Mason backward. His left glove again kept Mason from falling all the way to the canvas and caused the second knockdown of his 16-fight professional career, this time with 1:02 on the clock in the first round.

Mason remained composed, made it to the end of the first round and aggressively took out Vasquez in the second round.

“[I showed] I could push through it,” Mason said, “I could push through anything. Put me in there with anybody, and I’ll find a way to push through it and get on top. He had a lotta energy that came out, and I overcame it and we got the win.”