(Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/ Top Rank)

When Will Jamel Herring Fight Again?

By FIGHTSPORTS Jul 14, 2020 Last updated Jul 14, 2020

Tonight, July 14 was supposed to be the return of Jamel Herring. The WBO Junior-Lightweight Champion will now have to wait longer to compete after testing positive twice for COVID-19. The hope is that he will be back sooner than later.

Speaking with ESPN, Top Rank’s Bob Arum discussed when the team is trying to get Herring back in action.

“We’re looking to reschedule Jamel Herring for another date in August,” Arum stated.

Herring (21-2) was supposed to face Jonathan Oquendo on July 2 before initially testing positive for the virus. Inside the MGM Grand Conference Center, “Semper Fi” wanted to see if he could compete. Stating he was only 90% ready to go, the former Marine appeared to be in no condition to compete.

The goal was for Herring to fight to warm him up for a bout against Carl Frampton in November. A former IBF Super-Bantamweight and WBA Featherweight Champion, Frampton (27-2) will reportedly be competing in August. His return fight, the first since a November win against Tyler McCreary, would be on August 15. If both were to fight in August, they could be in line to compete sooner than later.

“Jamel will definitely fight in August,” said Jerry Casarez, Herring’s adviser. “We’re just going to go ahead and let him go home, enjoy his time with his kids while they’re still on summer break. Then he’ll be [back in] camp, hopefully by late July. The hard work has already been done; it’s just a matter of managing the weight.

Herring made his professional debut in 2012. He is currently on a five-fight win streak, winning the WBO Junior-Welterweight Title against Masayuki Ito in May 2019. He defended it in November, beating Lamont Roach Jr. via unanimous decision.

The only concern for Herring will be is if he is healthy following the second confirmed test. He will have to be monitored and tested a few more times. Herring will most likely have a catchweight bout just to warm himself up, due to recent circumstances.

“We know November’s around the corner, and we definitely want to be sharp,” Casarez went on to say. “He’s gone through the whole camp, he’s done the work. The exercise of going through the fight will be good for his body and his muscle memory.”