Want to keep up marine boxers’ tradition: Herring
- 30 Mar 2021
Jamel Herring wants to continue the legacy of representing marines in the sport of boxing when he defends his WBO super-featherweight title against Carl Frampton in this weekend’s massive showdown.
The D4G Promotions event takes place at Caesars Palace Dubai on Saturday, as Herring (22-2, 10 KOs) puts his belt on the line against Frampton (28-2, 16 KOs), in what is the biggest fight to ever take place in the region.
Herring enlisted in the Marines in 2003 and served two tours of duty in Iraq, and he has reflected on how that has helped set him up for this historic battle.
Herring said: “I want to be known as one of the best marines to represent in the sport of boxing, and to continue that tradition of marines in boxing.
“Being in this sport is a blessing, especially as this level, as I’ve been through a lot worse. I’ve dealt with two deployments, and I’ve lost family and friends.
“I always wanted to be part of something special, and I feel I have a lot more to prove. A win in this fight opens a lot of doors for me for future fights.
“I’ve always been a fan of Carl’s. He was named Fighter of the Year at one point, and he knows what it takes to win title fights. He wants to make history, and his legacy is already cemented.
“He didn’t need this fight, as win lose or draw he’ll go down as one of the best, but a win here for me solidifies me as a legitimate super-featherweight world champion.”
Also, former four-weight world champion Donnie Nietes will take on Pablo Carrillo for the vacant WBO International super-flyweight title.
It sees Filipino superstar Nietes (42-1-5, 23 KOs) make his highly-anticipated return to the ring, as he prepares to compete for the first time since December 2018.
Nietes has won world titles at super-flyweight, flyweight, light-flyweight and minimumweight during his incredible career, and has a serious challenge in front of him against Carrillo (25-7-1, 16 KOs), who is ranked #8 in the world with the WBA.
Carrillo has operated at the highest level in boxing for a number of years, having previously shared the ring with a number of world champions, including Kazuto Ioka, Luis Concepcion and Francisco Rodriguez Jr.
Meanwhile, American prodigy Keyshawn Davis will step up in competition against Richman Ashelley.
Davis (1-0, 1 KO) is back following a superb win over Lester Brown in his professional debut in February, now turning his attention to Ashelley (10-1, 9 KOs), who has nine of his ten wins coming by knockout.
Davis also had a sensational amateur career, becoming a 2017 Golden Gloves champion and 2019 World Championship silver medalist, and is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming talents in world boxing.
Two Dubai-based prospects have been added to the undercard next week too, as undefeated Faizan Anwar (5-0, 4 KOs) meets Evgenii Vazem, and Fahad Al Bloushi (3-1, 1 KO) squares off with Suraf (2-1, 1 KO).
Elsewhere on the action-packed card next month, Zhankosh Turarov and Tyrone McKenna meet for the WBO Intercontinental super-lightweight title and Kazakhstan sensation Tursynbay Kulakhmet defends his WBC International super-welterweight title against 20-0 opponent Heber Rondon.
