The 33-year-old lightweight contender was a few weeks away from facing Andy Cruz in an IBF eliminator on July 18. Those plans, however, drastically changed as he’ll now get a crack at the WBO 135-pound strap held by Abdullah Mason on July 4 at Wolfstein Center in Cleveland.

Mason (20-0, 17 KOs), ranked No. 5 by The Ring, was scheduled to take on former world champion Joe Cordina, but the Welshman was denied a visa to enter the United States.

Bell will have to prepare for a stylistically different opponent, but having waited so long for a chance to become a world champion, the Toledo native jumped at the chance to face Mason, the youngest male world champion in boxing, who is 11 years his junior.

“If you know my story, this is the opportunity I've been waiting on,” Bell told The Ring. “To get a direct shot at the belt made too much sense. May the best man win.”

Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) has already been putting in the work during training camp. He'll be in fight shape. He could hardly stop himself from smiling. That grin isn’t solely because of what’s directly in front of him, but also because of what may come in the future.

He doesn’t want to get too ahead of himself, but he wants to face whoever has the WBC lightweight title next. William Zepeda and Lamont Roach will clash for the vacant strap on August 1.

“I feel like both would be tough fights,” Bell said. “I got big goals. All I want is big fights."

Mason vs. Bell will stream worldwide on DAZN and will be televised by TNT in the U.S.