Jamel Herring vs Jonathan Oquendo is Off Again
According to The Athletic, WBO junior lightweight champion Jamel “Semper FI” Herring (21-2, 10KO) tests positive for COVID-19 again! The first test cancelled his second title defense set for June 22 against #11 ranked Jonathan Oquendo (31-6, 19KO). The bout had been re-scheduled for July 14. However with this news, the fight is called off again.
When the champ tested positive the first time, it was at the tail-end of his sickness. Therefore, it took no time for Top Rank/ESPN to re-schedule the contest. However, this time may not be so quick, assuming Oquendo will be the next opponent.
Herring last fought in November of 2019 when he defeated mandatory challenger Lamont Roach by unanimous decision. The bout served as his first title defense after upsetting previous champion Masayuki Ito in last May.
Although ranked within the top fifteen by the WBO, Oquendo wasn’t expected to cause an upset. The Puerto Rican is 1-1 in his last two fights with the loss coming to common opponent Lamont Roach.
The July 14 card will still take place as former Olympian and female junior lightweight contender Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5KO) will take the main event slot. She will be facing arguably the toughest opponent of her young career, Helen Joseph (17-4, 10KO).
Ironically, this bout is another of a previously cancelled event due to positive test for COVID-19. Mayer produced the test days before she and Joseph were to lock-horns on June 9 as the co-main event to Shakur Stevenson’s win over Felix Caraballo. She is the first Top Rank fighter to produce a positive test since the promotional company’s return to boxing.
Meanwhile, hopefully this is not a serious case for Herring and he can recover as quickly as he did the first time.
By: EJ Williams
