There's no secret here, he was as good as he appeared to be. Look at his record, that is it. A very good British HW champ who was never, ever, going to beat Lennox. But he was a bit more than that to people because there was something very honest in his style which was built around durability and persistence, the most "honest" style given his limitations. Boxing people of the time loved Gary Mason. But what he did is what he did.
Dillian Whyte with a better.. Far better chin. Just short of world class skills and technique, honest enough power, heart and good chin. Just not quite "there" if that makes sense
Yes, a slim favourite - somewhere around the 5-4 mark. At the time Mason was far more experienced and higher in the ratings. He was actually ahead on one card and even on the other two when his swollen eye forced the stoppage.
Not a bad fighter at all. Seen worse in the British ranks. Was never gonna win a world title but it wouldn't have been for lack of trying.
From my memory Mason gave Lewis one of his toughest fights, from what I heard Lewis in his training camp was told to specifically go after Mason's bad eye. If not for the injury to Mason's eye, he could of possibly gone the distance vs Lewis, and it might of got interesting as Lewis was green at the time. I also think if Mason would of fought Bruno he would of won, I think his toughness and underrated power could get to Bruno late.
