Jamel Herring responds to Albert Bell’s claims!
WBO junior lightweight champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring (21-2, 10KOs) talked exclusively with 3kingsboxing.com about a variety topics. However, the big one was him clarifying claims of raised by junior lightweight prospect Albert Bell (16-0, 5KOs), who accused Semper Fi of ducking a fight with him.
HERRING SPEAKS!
“I mean it’s crazy! Like for me, there’s no animosity for anybody because like I told him, you’re supposed to do all that rah-rah-whatever. But at the end of the day, that’s just the business of boxing. For one, like I said, you can go on Twitter and the matchmaker of Top Rank, he’s the one who put out in terms of who they want me to fight.
“Top Rank publicly, you know, I got messages from them; that’s why I’ve been cool lately until I got to speak with you guys, because they were the ones telling me to ease up and chill and don’t go out there and say anything crazy.
“But at the end of the day, how you gon’ sit up there and to be a real world champion, when I fought Masayuki [Ito], we all know I was the underdog. I was a major underdog going into that fight. Lamont Roach, undefeated number one contender, I took that fight immediately after I couldn’t get a unification with Miguel Berchelt, who’s the number one junior lightweight in the world apparently by the ring magazine and ESPN.
“That’s the number one guy and I was willing to fight him after I had just got my title. I mean I wasn’t gon’ take the easy route, easy road or whatever they say; I was going for the top guy, but Miguel Berchelt’s team, you guys seen it after the Ito fight.
“At first they said they wanted a unification, then all of a sudden you don’t hear about that fight. You don’t hear about that fight no more and it’s not coming from my side you know.
“I was willing to fight any of the other world champions out there, even my boy JoJo Diaz, you know, who’s my Olympic teammate. We even said if we had to fight each other we would do it. Then on top of that, after I beat Lamont, I was willing to take my title overseas to Belfast to fight Carl Frampton, who has a whole country behind him.
“He’s a three-time world champion in two weight divisions, and I’m the one who’s taking easy touches and I got to prove myself as the world champion?
“That’s why I had to laugh because if you take it personal, because it may sting and you may feel what people are saying may be true. I’m like come on man! Like every report out there in terms of the world title, the world champions I’ve been trying to call out fights, even Leo Santa Cruz as well. But now I’m avoiding a guy with a regional title or whatever who isn’t ranked?
“Like you said, much respect to Albert Bell and his team; they’re doing what they got to do to keep their name out there ringing. It’s a part of the business.”
Herring a humble guy, respectfully laid down the facts on the matter regarding Bell, who insinuated that the WBO champ ducked him. It’s clear, however, where Herring’s mindset is and that’s to unify and fight the best guys available.
Jamel Herring returns to the ring July 2 on ESPN against Jonathan Oquendo (31-6, 19KOs) at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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