“If he has a title down the line, let’s do it. I’m going to have a title down the line. It’s going to be a big, big, super fight,” said Emiliano Vargas ahead of his fight against Nelson Hampton last year. He was referring to Abdullah Mason. In a star-studded division like lightweight, names like Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson, and Keyshawn Davis dominate the spotlight. It’s rare to see a rivalry slowly take shape between young contenders.

But when ambitious and undefeated fighters like Mason and Vargas start planting seeds early, it sparks the imagination of fans eager to see greatness unfold. Fighting on the Richard Torrez–Guido Vianello undercard, Abdullah Mason delivered a composed performance. He outboxed Carlos Ornelas to claim the vacant NABF and WBO NABO lightweight titles. In the lead-up to the fight, as Mason sat down with The Ring for an interview, Vargas’ tweet, “Vargas vs. Mason PPV,” shortly after Mason’s November bout where he was knocked down, echoed. Yet Mason didn’t take offense. Instead, he viewed it as a reflection of his growing threat level.

Abdullah Mason responds as Emiliano Vargas callout gains new meaning

The Ring’s Rikki Soumpholphakdy caught up with Mason in Las Vegas. The conversation opened with the unexpected withdrawal of Giovanni Cabrera as his scheduled opponent. They soon touched on Mason’s recent fourth-round knockout over Manuel Jaimes on the Keyshawn Davis–Denys Berinchyk Valentine’s Day card, his fifteenth KO victory. They discussed the possibility of a homecoming bout and cleared the air on the fabricated Andy Cruz callout. The conversation circled back to Emiliano Vargas. Both Mason and Vargas are signed to Top Rank, fight in similar weight classes (135–140 lbs.), and have shared locker rooms on undercards. A matchup feels inevitable.

Mason spoke highly of Vargas and his family, finding common ground in their backgrounds. Both come from tight-knit households with multiple boxing brothers, something Mason respects deeply. But when it comes to the timing of Vargas’ comments, he was candid. “But, uh, it kind of just shows you my level of—I would say I think it’s because of my level of skill set. Not too many people say anything about fighting me, you know, cuz it’s a high risk,” Mason explained.

However, Vargas speaking up after the knockdowns was no coincidence. Mason stopped his opponent in that very same fight. However, he felt his brief moment of vulnerability gave potential rivals, like Vargas and Manuel Jaimes, the confidence to speak out. “They needed that,” he said. “To know something, or to gain confidence about themselves.”

Confidence or calculation? Mason breaks it down

When Soumpholphakdy asked, “So you feel like Emiliano got a little more confidence seeing you get dropped, and now he’s more inclined to be like, I want to fight him, Abdullah?” he replied, “For sure. I mean, that’s exactly what that was, you know.”

He clarified that prior to November, no one was calling him out. Now that they saw a crack, the conversation shifted. Whether Vargas truly believed he could win or simply wanted a reaction from fans, Mason remained open.

When the conversation turned to their shared undercards, Mason acknowledged a natural sense of awareness. They weren’t physically sizing each other up. But there was an unspoken understanding: if both continue on their current path, a collision is inevitable.

Despite the tension, Mason emphasized respect. The potential for Vargas vs. Mason is rich, not just in talent, but in storylines. Two young stars, both second-generation boxers with proud families in their corners, eyeing future greatness.

Should this fight happen soon, or is the buildup just getting started?