The good news for Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton is that plans remain firmly in place for their 130-pound title fight to still take place.
The date remains up in the air for obvious reasons, given the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Where the fight takes place remains undetermined at the moment, although both champion and challenger remain keen on it remaining in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
“I’m actually kind of upset of the opportunity for it not happening in Belfast,” Herring (21-2, 10KOs) admitted in an interview with Crystina Poncher, as part of Top Rank’s Catching Up With Crystina YouTube series. “Not too many world champions can be in a huge event of that magnitude. I’ve always wanted to be in something special in my career, especially with how far I’ve come in my career. I’m just grateful for the people in the states, in Northern Ireland and in the UK, they’ve all been asking for this fight.
“I just like to entertain people no matter where they’re at. I just know that atmosphere would’ve been tremendous and crazy. So, there’s still a side of me still hoping that we can still pull this off. Not only are you fighting against the man in front of you, but you want to see how well you do in an atmosphere where not everyone is on your side.”
Herring was born and raised in the Coram section of Long Island, New York but now makes his home in Cincinnati, Ohio. The decorated United States Marine—who served two tours in Iraq—and 2012 U.S. Olympic boxing team captain has spent the entirety of his pro career stateside, with his current title reign serving as the highest symbol of American patriotism.
The 34-year old southpaw dethroned Japan’s Masayuki Ito last Memorial Day weekend in Kissimmee, Florida. The occasion came complete with a platoon worth of U.S. Marines on site, with his first title defense—a 12-round decision over unbeaten challenger Lamont Roach Jr.—serving as a tribute to the Marine Corps with the bout coming two days prior to Veteran’s Day last November.
The win over Roach came three weeks prior to Belfast’s Frampton (27-2, 15KOs) doing his part to make the fight a reality. The former two-division champ outclassed previously unbeaten Tyler McCreary over 10 rounds last November. From there came the agreement for Herring and Frampton to head to Belfast, with the fight tentatively scheduled for June 13 prior to the COVID-19 crisis shutting down event worldwide.
It has been deemed by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum—whose Top Rank company represents both fighters—that plans are in place for this fight to be rescheduled, though not at the expense of it being staged behind closed doors. Crowds in Belfast have proven to be passionate in past events, particularly when it comes to Frampton who is among the best—if not at the very top of the list of—fighters to come out of Northern Ireland.
“To be a challenger and the opportunity for me to fight at home was a big deal to me,” notes Frampton. “I never thought when this fight was first talked about that it could come to Belfast. I’m just glad that Jamel’s on the same page as me. He wants the fight. I still want the fight.
“Once this all kind of calms down, I’m pretty sure it’s gonna happen.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox