Shabaz Masoud stays unbeaten as the crowd makes its way to the bar

MANCHESTER, England – Shabaz Masoud claimed a unanimous decision victory in his featherweight debut over Ckari Cani Mansilla at Manchester’s Co-op LIVE.

The former European junior featherweight champion might have liked to have made more of an impact in his first fight at 126lbs, however.

He had of course picked up standout wins over Liam Davies and Peter McGrail in successive bouts. The most recent, a unanimous decision victory over 2020 Olympian McGrail, came back in December 2025, and Masoud put nine months of inactivity behind him with an underwhelming 10-round decision win. All scores read 100-90 in favour of Stoke-on-Trent’s Masoud, now 15-0 (4 KOs).

Masoud, 30, was never in danger from the now 19-5 (13 KOs) Mansilla, but failed to make an impact with any of his shots.

The 34-year-old Argentinian may have been much smaller in stature, but the biggest difference between the pair was their ability. Mansilla offered little from the off, edging his way in and occasionally throwing scrappy shots on the inside – if Masoud allowed him to get that close.

Masoud seemed happy coasting and banking the rounds. He would land a lab, spin off, and then back away. Whenever Masoud did throw he landed flush, but he lacked the power or spite on his shots to do Mansilla any damage.

The contest was a hard watch and a large portion of fans could be seen heading to the bar at the end of the sixth.

It seemed Masoud may finally start to plant his feet and get Mansilla out of there late into the contest with well needed rounds secured, but the shots continued to bounce off Mansilla.

The highlight of the fight was when both fighters tumbled to the floor midway through the eighth, bringing a jeer from an otherwise silent crowd.

There was no urgency in the 10th and final session from Masoud to get the overmatched Argentinian out of there. Masoud even spent the final seconds running away from Mansilla with a smile on his face.

No one else in the arena was smiling. In the end, the crowd at Co-op LIVE were happy to hear the final bell.

A contest to forget.