The 33-year-old returned to the ring last Saturday at Stratford’s Cooper Box Arena after a nine-month absence with a hard-earnt eight round unanimous points decision (78-72, 77-73, 76-74) over USA’s Adan Palma. He appeared on the Sky Sports-televised Zuffa Boxing-promoted undercard of Cheavon Clarke’s shock seventh round stoppage victory over former WBO world cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith.

Abdulah put Palma done in rounds one and six but was unable to follow up with stoppage opportunities on both occasions.

“I left the ring with a very healthy gas tank and do regret not pushing the pace more but I’m happy I had that fight,” Masood, who improves his professional record to 14-1, said. “It was a very good learning fight.

“That’s the first time I’ve been with someone who is possibly a bigger puncher than I am. I had to dig deep at times and push through. Palma was a very good opponent to have.”

Abdulah, of Afghanistan heritage, ended his contract with Islington-born promoter Frank Warren (Queensberry Promotions) in his previous outing back in February in Marbella, Spain after defeating Cameroon’s Sheffield-based Thomas Essomba in ten rounds for the IBO international title.

And back in February 2025 in Manchester Abdulah lost the Commonwealth mantle along with the bid to become British champion after losing a 12-round majority points decision to Zak Miller.

“I think Zuffa Boxing can get me back into the British and Commonwealth title mix,” Masood added. “They are very professional people to work with and very organised.”

Also on the Zuffa Boxing 12 bill, Notting Hill’s former Ladbroke Grove-based Dale Youth amateur cruiserweight Lucas Roehrig, 23, moved to ten straight wins after stopping Dumfries Connal McDonald in seven rounds.

And at AO Arena, Manchester on a Queensberry Promotions bill Finchley-based 2016 ParisOlympics super-heavyweight champion Tony Toka moved to 16-3 after registering a six round points over Ukraine’s Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko.