Has there been any sparring session involving Devin Haney that has not ended in some sort of controversy? The former undisputed lightweight champion loves to practice against some of the most talented names modern boxing has to offer. However, more often than not, these sessions have ended in some sort of drama. Whether it’s his trash-talking after facing Amir Khan or the comical clash with Joe Laws, there is always something.
However, none of his sparring sessions has brought more heat than when he fought the then-15-year-old Abdullah Mason in 2019. Many view The Dream as someone who cherry-picks safer sparring partners to protect his polished reputation. But this time, that strategy—if it was one—went up in flames. According to a revelation, Mason proved to be far more than Haney had bargained for, pushing the session to the brink of chaos and nearly igniting a full-on brawl.
Bill Haney was cool
Recently, boxing reporter Sean Zittel got a hold of rising lightweight sensation Abdullah Mason, his older brother Amir Mason, and their father to talk about the Mason family’s plan in boxing. The 21-year-old fighter’s rapid rise in the lightweight division massively impressed Zittel. He mentioned first encountering Abdullah back in 2019, following an electrifying sparring session with Devin Haney that left a lasting impression on Zittel.
Devin Haney sparred Abdullah Mason when he was 15 years old and the sparring got so heated that the corner men were going at it until Bill Haney calmed everybody down
:@Sean_Zittel pic.twitter.com/LhF2MDGRoH
— Hassan (@Hassanwellss) April 4, 2025
Zittel further added, “The thing I remember most about the Mason brothers sparring Haney was Amir and Church getting a little crazy and dad not having it. Dad not just laying down,” he stated. With a smile on his face, Valiant Mason, their father, agreed that he was indeed a bit enraged, but was delighted with his son’s performance. “It was nice,” he shared.
As the camera panned towards Amir Mason, he reminisced about Church, Devin Haney’s previous hype man. “It was about to go down in there,” Amir Mason recalled. The undefeated 17-0 lightweight prospect explained how encountering such a character in Devin Haney’s corner was a new experience for them, adding pressure to the already intense session.
“They wasn’t used to somebody, standing their ground,” the older brother stated. The trio agreed that Church’s antics were what turned the heat up a notch, and they credited Bill Haney’s intervention for keeping the situation from spiraling out of hand. “And Bill to his credit calmed things down,” Zittel added. That’s when Valiant Mason replied, “Bill was on point man. He was real mature.” Now, Bill Haney playing the peacekeeper, that is not something you hear every day.
Prominent boxing page, @Hassanwells posted the snippet on his ‘X’ profile. Soon fans, especially Devin Haney critics, flooded the comments, with many insisting that a 15-year-old Abdullah Mason might have very likely dominated Haney in that session, fueling the buzz around the viral moment.
Is this true, Devin Haney? Fan demands answer
Popular internet critic, Ray Jackson, a long-term Gervonta Davis fan, chimed in with a bold take. “Mason was beating the brakes off Devin lol,” asserting that Abdullah Mason got the upper hand in their sparring session. As of now, there has been no acknowledgment by either Haney or Mason as to how the session truly unfolded, other than the ruckus it led to. Furthermore, the 21-year-old prospect has often expressed appreciation for the opportunity to spar with Devin Haney. So, at the moment, Jackson’s claims seem rather baseless.
A fan, catching Abdullah Mason’s sly smirk in the interview, posted, “Devin must be got his ahh whooped,” siding with Jackson. Abdullah Mason’s confidence surprised him while talking about the sparring session and the fan presumed that must be the case behind the attitude.
Another fan, equally puzzled by the Masons’ self-assured vibe wrote, “They looking a lil too happy about what happened, @Realdevinhaney don’t let me hear lil Abdullah was giving u that work.” The fan tagged Haney directly, eager for the former champ to set the record straight.
Not everyone bought the hype, though. A fan commented, “Abdullah and devin wasn’t even heated it was abdullah brother and devin but all yall d*ksuckers lack listening comprehension.” He mentioned how it was not Abdullah Mason in a heated argument after the fight. In fact, it was Amir Mason and Devin Haney, urging everyone to ease up on the criticism.
Amidst the controversy, a fan looked at the bright side and wrote, “I love these sparring sessions that’s how you know tht was tht good work!” He indicated how sparring sessions like these allow the fans to get a grasp of their favorite talent.
The Masons have acknowledged that tensions flared between the two camps after the sparring session wrapped up, confirming a heated exchange did take place. Still, Ray Jackson’s assertion that a 15-year-old completely outclassed Devin Haney lacks solid backing. If Abdullah Mason had truly dominated, it’s hard to imagine his team wouldn’t have seized the chance to trumpet it across every media outlet. Or maybe it did happen, who knows?
How do you think the sparring session went between the two? Let us know your thoughts down below.
The post Devin Haney Got the ‘Brakes Beaten Off Him’ by 15-Year-Old Abdullah Mason — Bill Haney Had to Jump In appeared first on EssentiallySports.
