Former WBO super-featherweight world champion Jamel Herring isn’t satisfied with how his professional boxing journey looked to be ending, and after a 18-month layoff, will make his in-ring return on November 7 looking to finish the final chapter of his career on his terms. IBF champion Joe Cordina makes the first defence of his title three days earlier in Monaco, and an unlikely showdown with the Welshman is naturally a difficult challenge he has set for himself.
Herring: A chance to go out on my own terms
Jamel Herring (23-4, 11 KOs) vs. Nicholas Molina (13-0, 5 KOs)
November 7 at Manhattan’s Edison Ballroom
Event to be promoted by Lou DiBella, rest of card TBA
After suffering consecutive defeats by Shakur Stevenson and lightweight contender Jamaine Ortiz seven months apart, Jamel Herring didn’t just lose his world title but also some stock in a ruthless game shrouded by recency bias at the best of times.
Unsurprisingly, he announced his retirement on social media after the latter loss and was met with appreciation from fight fans worldwide for a career exceeding expectations, especially after bouncing back from adversity – two defeats in a three-fight span – July 2016 (Denis Shafikov, TKO10) and Aug. 2017 (Ladarius Miller, UD10).
While many boxing insiders expected the Stevenson outcome given their technical differences and the gulf in age, being outpointed by Ortiz is an outcome that doesn’t look as bad in retrospect given how the Technician fared at world level afterwards.
The 27-year-old was competitive in defeat by Vasiliy Lomachenko five months later, and will box Mexico’s Antonio Moran (29-5-1, 20 KOs) this Friday evening.
Regardless, Herring can now rewrite his own history after being outworked (115-113, 116-112, 117-111 Ortiz) by two considerably younger contenders a year apart in age.
During a podcast interview with MillCity Boxing last week, the 37-year-old spoke with renewed enthusiasm about what’s left for him:
“It’s a chance to go out on my own terms. Just to get back to where I was at before, at least on the winning terms – also another opportunity afterward for a second world title. I’m taking this fight like it’s a title fight, a lot riding on this.”
After winning the WBO world title with a UD12 win over Masayuki Ito, he scored wins over Lamont Roach (UD12), Jonathan Oquendo-Arnaldi (DQ8, leading 80-70 x 2, 79-71) and Carl Frampton before Stevenson proved a few levels too hot to handle.
Nicholas Molina is relatively unheralded as an American prospect flickering between lightweight and light-welterweight so far in his career, with only one opponent on his resume holding a positive win-loss record.
Couple that with being on a small card, it’s easy to see how Herring might not be particularly motivated – but he has bigger things in sight.
Super-featherweight world champions, at present
WBC: O’Shaquie Foster, set to defend his title vs. Eduardo Hernandez on Oct. 28
WBA: Hector Luis Garcia – future unclear, after Gervonta Davis KOR9 loss in January
IBF: Joe Cordina – Edward Vasquez next, after Shavkat Rakhimov win on Apr. 22
WBO: Emanuel Navarrete, defended his title vs. Oscar Valdez UD12 on Aug. 12
Although he still wants unification fights, two-time super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina has publicly voiced his readiness to fight Herring but first needs to be successful against Edward Vazquez (15-1, 3 KOs).
The 27-year-old has scored split decision wins in two of his last three and most recently won a UD10 tussle vs. Brayan De Gracia to win the IBF’s Inter-Continental featherweight strap on July 29, so activity is no issue for the Texan contender.
Picture source: Getty Images
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