Jonathan Oquendo didn’t expect the phone call he received, but never stopped preparing for this moment.
The 36-year old contender from Vega Alta, Puerto Rico became the unlikeliest of challengers when he was selected as the opponent of choice for reigning 130-pound titlist Jamel Herring (21-2, 10KOs). The offer came at a time when Oquendo wasn’t even sure if he would fight at all in 2020, but one which he didn’t hesitate to accept.
“When I got the phone call from (the team) at Miguel Cotto Promotions, I was so excited over it,” Oquendo (31-6, 19KOs) told BoxingScene.com. “As soon as they mentioned the fight, I accepted it. I’m 36 years old, in the middle of a (coronavirus pandemic) and I’m getting to fight for the championship of the world.”
Their bout was scheduled to take place atop a July 14 show live on ESPN from a crowdless MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This past Tuesday’s contest marked the second attempted title defense for Herring, a 34-year old southpaw from Coram, New York. The decorated U.S. Marine and 2012 U.S. Olympic Boxing team captain was forced to postpone this bout after once again testing positive for COVID-19.
The contest was initially scheduled for July 2, and pushed back, when Herring tested positive the first time.
The second time around, however, was proven to be a false-positive.
Now the two sides are in talks to schedule a new date for the world title encounter.
Oquendo has been here before, though falling well short in a December 2015 featherweight title bid versus Argentina’s Jesus Cuellar. Five wins have followed in six fights since that night, the lone loss coming to then-unbeaten Lamont Roach Jr. who would go on to challenge Herring for this very title last November.
The Puerto Rican veteran was selected for a reason, as Herring is being lined for a mouthwatering showdown with former two-division champion Carl Frampton.
At 5’5”, the fun-sized Frampton is only an inch taller than the 5’4” Oquendo, whose similar physical dimensions made him an attractive opponent selection. As much is not lost on the longshot underdog, who has every intention of disrupting those plans.
“We see it all the time, the (A-side) fighters try to pick and choose their opponents,” insists Oquendo, who is coming off of a 10-round shutout of Charles Huerta last November. “Jamel and his corner will be in for a big surprise.
“I’m going to fight like it’s my last chance, like my career depends on it.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
