Jamel Herring is following in the footsteps of a friend and reuniting with a familiar promoter in an otherwise new endeavor.
Herring, a former junior lightweight titleholder, will make his bare-knuckle boxing debut January 17 at BKFC 86 against Matt Guymon at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
As he ventures into a new frontier, Herring has been motivated by his friend and fellow former titleholder: Austin Trout reached the pinnacle of boxing, defeating Miguel Cotto and facing Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in one of Alvarez’s early marquee bouts, then began fighting bare-knuckle in 2023, capturing a title and compiling a record that remains undefeated.
“You have to be smart,” said Herring, who went 24-5 (12 KOs) in professional boxing. “That is one thing I spoke about with Austin [Trout]. We had to go back to the basics and learn the basics as boxers from the very beginning. Lateral movement, feints, and for the most part, your offense is your defense. He told me what things to look out for. He told me about the success he has found from the transition from boxing to BKFC.”
David Feldman, the promoter of BKFC, co-promoted Herring’s early bouts when he turned pro, following his 2012 U.S. Olympic bid.
“He helped promote a few of my fights, along with Marshall Kaufmann,” Herring said of Feldman. “When we got on the phone, we pretty much went down memory lane.”
Despite an accomplished amateur career, Herring was saddled with two losses before winning the WBO junior lightweight title in 2019. He held that belt until 2021, losing it to Shakur Stevenson. Herring has had a rough go since: As a boxer, he has lost three of his past four fights, including a lightweight loss to Jamaine Ortiz and a split decision loss to Jackson Jon England in Australia. Last year, Herring faced legal issues. The charges have since been dropped. Bare-knuckle boxing, if nothing else, offers a refresh.
Although he wasn’t asked about his past difficulties, he did answer the question many fight fans might be asking. Why do this at 40?
“As a Marine, and dealing with PTSD, I always like to keep myself busy,” Herring said. “It isn’t as much a money thing but a sense of accomplishment. I am in a good place mentally, and that is what it all comes down to – how you are feeling mentally.”
Herring is now working with Henry Ramirez in Riverside, California, and he hopes to replicate Trout’s success.
“If I can follow the path of my friend Austin,” Herring said, “I want to become a two-sport world champion.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.
