The Jamel Herring-Carl Frampton fight that was canceled because of the coronavirus could resurface in November.
The Jamel Herring-Carl Frampton fight that was canceled because of the coronavirus could resurface in November.
Promoter Bob Arum, who promotes Herring and co-promotes Frampton, told BoxingScene.com that he doesn’t know exactly when or where it will take place because of the pandemic but he believes we’ll see it if they win their interim fights.
Herring, who has recovered from the coronavirus, is scheduled to defend his junior lightweight title against Jonathan Oquendo on Tuesday inside the MGM Grand bubble in Las Vegas. He reportedly is a 14-1 favorite.
Frampton is scheduled to return to the ring on Aug. 15 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His opponent hasn’t been selected.
“Don’t ask me where, with all these travel bans and everything else,” Arum said. “But [Herring-Frampton] will happen. The plan is to do it in November. … I think it’s a terrific fight. Both guys think they’re gonna win the fight easy. So, we’ll see.”
Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) was scheduled to face Frampton (27-2, 15 KOs) on June 13 in Belfast, the Irishman’s hometown, but then the sport was shut down.
Jamel Herring reportedly will be one of the first big-name opponents to return to the ring amid the coronavirus threat.
Jamel Herring reportedly will be one of the first big-name opponents to return to the ring amid the coronavirus threat.
The junior lightweight titleholder will defend his title on July 2 in Las Vegas, he told ESPN. No opponent has been selected. Herring had been tentatively set to face former two-division beltholder Carl Frampton in Northern Ireland but that fight fell out because of the pandemic.
The site also hasn’t been finalized, although it will be a MGM Resorts property.
“It’s fluid,” said Carl Moretti, director of boxing operations for Top Rank. “We’re on calls every day with stuff. So what we thought was happening on Tuesday is not, and what we thought was happening on Wednesday is now happening. So it just changes and changes.”
Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) won his title by outpointing Masayuki Ito in May of last year. He successfully defended with a decision over Lamont Roach in November.
The 2012 U.S. Olympian is working with trainer Brian McIntyre in Omaha, Nebraska, according to ESPN. He said he doesn’t expect to be rusty when he steps back into the ring.
“It’s funny, I actually felt good for my first sparring session,” Herring said. “So that tells you that even though I haven’t been in a gym setting, the workouts I had been doing at home during my free time, they’ve been paying off.
“So when I got back into the swing of things, it wasn’t a hard adjustment. It’s only one week, and this gives me almost a full eight weeks until the fight arrives.”
Herring won’t face Frampton in July but still wants that fight.
“That’s still the No. 1 priority, for sure,” he said. “I’m still actually shocked from the latest story that I’ve seen, where he’s not willing to fight unless he’s fighting me. If it comes around the December time frame, he will have been out for like an entire year.
“But for me, I just want to stay as busy as much as possible. I’m not getting younger as it is. So why risk coming into big fights with the ring rust on you still.”
Fox Sports 1 is showcasing two great champions on boxing classic lineup Saturday – Rocky Balboa and Manny Pacquiao.
Fox Sports 1 is showcasing two great champions on boxing classic lineup Saturday – Rocky Balboa and Manny Pacquiao.
The programming begins at 9 p.m. ET with the 1982 film “Rocky III,” in which Sylvester Stallone’s character loses the heavyweight title to the Mr. T character Clubber Lang but later – with old rival Apollo Creed in his corner – regains it.
That’s followed at 11 p.m. ET by Pacquiao’s victory over Adrien Broner from January 2019 and, at midnight, Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton II from January 2017, in which Santa Cruz regained the featherweight title he lost to Frampton in their first fight.
Pacquiao completed a remarkable 2019 by outpointing Keith Thurman sixth months after the Broner fight.
Santa Cruz successfully defended the title three times and then outpointed Miguel Flores to win a vacant junior lightweight title in November.
Showtime has announced its May lineup of replays, beginning with two Errol Spence Jr. fights this Friday.
More Showtime Boxing Classics are on the way.
Showtime has announced its May lineup of replays, beginning with two Errol Spence Jr. fights this Friday. Other featured fighters include Keith Thurman, Floyd Mayweather, Joe Calzaghe and Leo Santa Cruz.
All shows are on Fridays and begin at 10 p.m. ET / PT.
Here is the schedule:
May 1 – Spence vs. Kell Brook, Spence vs. Lamont Peterson
May 8 – Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter, Thurman vs. Danny Garcia.
May 15 – Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana I, Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor
May 22 – Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu, Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy
May 29 – Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton II, Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares II.
Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create …
Boxing Junkie staffers are trying to have some fun while the sport is on hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic.
One of the questions fans love to ask even amid a busy schedule is, “Who would win if …?” With that in mind, we decided to create our own “Who Wins?” feature, in which we pit a single fighter against each of five potential opponents and indicate who we believe would win the fights.
Next up is our final subject, No. 15 Leo Santa Cruz.
In this installment of Who Wins?, our staffers’ give their takes on how Santa Cruz would do against Gervonta Davis, Gary Russell Jr., Miguel Berchelt, Joseph Diaz Jr. and Jamel Herring. We then tally Santa Cruz’s record in those fights and present our standings.
Santa Cruz isn’t the flashiest boxer (or person) but he has known almost nothing but success. He has fought at the elite level for a decade, has won titles in three divisions and avenged his only loss (to Carl Frampton) by consistently outworking his opponents.
We want to acknowledge that the choice of possible opponents is subjective. We’re looking for the best possible but also realistic foes for our featured boxers. One caveat: We won’t consider promotional and managerial rivalries that often stand in the way of the best matchups. And we’re operating under the assumption that none of our featured boxers will fight with ring rust as result of their forced coronavirus-related layoff.
So here goes: Santa Cruz vs. his five potential opponents.
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SANTA CRUZ (37-1-1, 19 KOs) VS. DAVIS (23-0, 22 KOs)
Gervonta Davis (left, against Jesus Cuellar) would be a handful for Leo Santa Cruz. AP Photo / Frank Franklin II
Rosenthal: Santa Cruz makes his opponents miserable because of his work rate; he doesn’t give them a chance to breathe. Davis, at his best, is more dynamic – quicker, more explosive – and definitely a bigger puncher. If he can handle Santa Cruz’s pressure – which isn’t a given – he’ll control the fight by outboxing Santa Cruz and landing the bigger shots. Davis by decision.
Frauenheim: Hard to know what to make of Santa Cruz. He was a whirlwind at 126 pounds. But recent performances are forgettable. Davis has dangerous power. Dangerous temper, too. The Santa Cruz of a few years ago frustrates him, beats him on the cards. Expect the old Santa Cruz, who wins a unanimous decision.
Nam: It comes down to whether Davis shows up in shape and prepared. If he fought like he did against the one-legged, washed-up Yuriorkis Gamboa, Santa Cruz could run away with a decision. Given how Davis’s energy tends to sag in the second half of fights, Santa Cruz could be in a prime position to snag some rounds on activity alone. The thinking here, though, is that Davis’s power will have the last word. Davis by stoppage in the late rounds.
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SANTA CRUZ VS. RUSSELL (31-1, 18 KOs)
Gary Russell Jr. (right, against Tugstsogt Nyambayar) might have too much speed for Santa Cruz. Amanda Westcott / Showtime
Rosenthal: Santa Cruz has the style – pressure, pressure, pressure – to give a slick boxer problems. But Russell has the talent, the experience and toughness to handle almost anything. He’ll use his feet to frustrate Santa Cruz and land more than enough quick, accurate shots to win rounds. Russell by decision.
Frauenheim: Harder to know what to make of Russell than it is Santa Cruz. He’s fought only four times over the last four years. He’s known for hand speed. He’ll be 32 in June. If the speed is still there, he beats Santa Cruz, landing punches from various angles. Expect the speed to be there. Russell, unanimous decision.
Nam: If Santa Cruz can’t cut off the ring, he doesn’t have a chance of winning this fight. Superior hand speed notwithstanding, Russell is an effective boxer, who likes to continually slide to his left as he flits in with a flurry here and there, making this something of a nightmare styles matchup for the Mexican. If Russell doesn’t skimp out on the road work, he should find himself on the winning end of a decision.
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SANTA CRUZ VS. BERCHELT (37-1, 33 KOs)
Miguel Berchelt (right) has too many advantages to lose to Santa Cruz Mikey Williams / Top Rank
Rosenthal: Berchelt is the genuine article. The Mexican can box, he can punch, he can take a punch (with one exception years ago) and he, like Santa Cruz, is a natural 130-pounder. Neither will have to look for the other, meaning both fighters will land a lot of hard shots. Punching power will be the difference. And Berchelt has an edge in that department. Berchelt by late KO.
Frauenheim: Santa Cruz’s toughest fight. Berchelt has a presence, an intangible poise. He won’t lose his cool, even a Santa Cruz at his whirlwind best. He’s also strong, physical enough to slow down Santa Cruz, especially in the later rounds. Berchelt, unanimous decision.
Nam: Like Santa Cruz, Berchelt likes to mix it up on the inside. Only he’s bigger and he hits harder. This is a fun fight until Berchelt’s natural advantages take over in the second half. Berchelt by unanimous decision.
***
SANTA CRUZ VS. DIAZ (31-1, 15 KOs)
Jo Jo Diaz has the skill set to compete with Santa Cruz but perhaps not the punching power. Michael Reaves / Getty Images
Rosenthal: Diaz, a former U.S. Olympian, is a polished, gutsy boxer who is coming off a break-through victory over Tevin Farmer to win a 130-pound title in January. He will give Santa Cruz problems early in the fight but Santa Cruz, also an excellent boxer, ultimately will outwork him and win a clear decision.
Frauenheim: Diaz has momentum, winning five straight since his lone loss to Russell in May 2018. An accomplished amateur, he has solid boxing skills. He also knows Santa Cruz. He sparred with him. What he doesn’t have is power, or at least enough to slow down Santa Cruz, who wins unanimous decision.
Nam: Both guys like to tussle on the inside, but Diaz hits harder and his southpaw angles will befuddle the somewhat unimaginative Santa Cruz. This is a high-volume affair that’ll be close on the cards. Diaz by decision.
***
SANTA CRUZ VS. HERRING (21-2, 10 KOs)
Is former Olympian Jamel Herring (right) to slick for Santa Cruz. Dylan Buell / Getty Images
Rosenthal: Herring, another U.S. Olympian, realized his potential by outboxing Masayuki Ito to win a 130-pound title last May. He doesn’t have much power but he’s a beautiful, effective boxer. The problem for him is that Santa Cruz will be in his face from beginning to end, giving him little chance to find his rhythm. Santa Cruz by clear decision.
Frauenheim: Herring is slick and as tough as his Semper Fi nickname. The combat veteran knows his way around the ring. But his power – 10 KOs in 21 fights – is suspect. He’ll need more than he has displayed against the often-tireless Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz, unanimous decision.
Nam: Herring is bigger (he used to campaign at 135), awkward, and mobile. Stylistically speaking, Santa Cruz has never fought anybody like Herring; the majority of his opponents have been artless, come-forward types. Herring controls the distance and pace for 12 rounds, working behind his southpaw jab while continually turning Santa Cruz, en route to a points decision.
Carl Frampton and Jamel Herring have an agreement to fight but they don’t have a date or a place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton have an agreement. But they don’t have a date or a place.
Welcome to a new way of doing business. Tentative is the operative word for as long as the coronavirus pandemic forces the world into quarantine.
Frank Warren, of Queensberry Promotions, announced the deal Wednesday on his Twitter account, saying: Terms are agreed. … News on date and venue coming soon.’’
But the date and place are subject to when the contagious virus subsides. There are no reliable odds on that. Just fears that it will continue.
Warren is hoping to stage the bout on June 13 in Belfast, Ireland, Frampton’s hometown.
Herring-Frampton, for Herring’s junior lightweight belt, has been speculated for months. At first, there were questions about whether it would ever happen because of injuries to Frampton (27-2, 15 KOs), a former junior featherweight and featherweight champion who underwent surgery for fractures in both hands after his decision unanimous over Tyler McCreary on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas.
Herring (21-2, 10 KOs), a Marine and Iraq war veteran, is coming off a unanimous decision over Lamont Roach in his first title defense on Nov. 9 in Fresno, California.
Joet Gonzalez is determined to demonstrate that his loss to Shakur Stevenson was just an off night.
Boxing, says featherweight contender Joet Gonzalez, is a learning process. That applies whether you win or lose.
Gonzalez is coming off the biggest fight of his career and his first loss, a unanimous decision against Shakur Stevenson for a vacant 126-pound title last October in Reno, Nevada. All three scorecards were the same: 119-109, or 11 rounds to one. It wasn’t close.
Gonzalez hasn’t made excuses, even when he has had the opportunity. Five months later, nothing has changed. It just wasn’t his night.
“I just found myself stuck in this [rut],” said Gonzalez, who faces Chris Avalos on March 19 at Avalon Hollywood in Hollywood, California. “I was doing the same thing over and over again, every round. I knew what I needed to do I just couldn’t do it. It was weird.
“… That’s boxing. You learn something in every fight.”
Joet Gonzalez (right, against Rafael Rivera) remains focused on winning a world championship. Tom Hogan-Hoganphotos / Golden Boy
Gonzalez (23-1, 14 KOs) has had a lot of learning opportunities.
For example, he has had the opportunity to spar with highly respected world champions Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oscar Valdez, which he described as “good sparring, really good work.”
He said he held his own against Lomachenko, who many regard as the No. 1 fighter pound for pound in the world, but he added that the gifted Ukrainian was no ordinary sparring partner.
“You could say Lomachenko is in his own category. The guy’s very competitive, very, very skilled and smart in the ring,” he told Boxing Junkie.
Of course, the fight against Stevenson – his first professional setback – also provided valuable lessons.
The main one: That no matter how prepared you are for fight you never know how things will unfold in the ring. All a fighter can do is train properly, do his best, accept the result and come back to do it again.
“I had a great camp [for Stevenson],” he said. “I had great sparring, everything. It just wasn’t my day. What I learned is that you can have one of your best camps, best sparring, and, come fight time, you don’t perform the way you’re supposed to.
“And then you have camps where you look like s—, you get your ass beat in sparring, maybe you’re not in great shape, and come fight time you knock the dude out cold. It is what it is.”
Gonzalez certainly isn’t dwelling on the past. He said taking his first loss wasn’t as devastating as one might think. He leaned on his family to help him in the immediate aftermath, took about a week off to rest and then went right back to the gym.
His record looks different now but he’s the same determined boxer with sights locked onto another title shot.
“My goal is still there, my hunger is still there,” he said.
Of course, he’ll have to get past Avalos (27-7, 20 KOs) to get back into the championship hunt.
Avalos has been a major player at both junior featherweight and featherweight but has come up short in his biggest fights, knockout losses to Carl Frampton for a 122-pound title in 2015, Oscar Valdez at 126 pounds later that year and Leo Santa Cruz for a 126-pound belt in 2017.
After the loss to Santa Cruz, he stepped away from boxing for two years only to lose a decision to Abimael Ortiz in his comeback fight this past November.
Still, Gonzalez isn’t taking anything for granted. They know one another because they both grew up in the Los Angeles area and they even sparred once, when Gonzalez was still an amateur and Avalos a young pro. Gonzalez doesn’t remember much about the session other than it was “normal sparring.”
“He’s a tough guy,” Gonzalez said. “He comes to fight. He doesn’t come as an opponent, he comes to win. I’m ready. I want to make a statement. I want to show boxing fans, boxing people that [the loss to Stevenson] was just a bad night and that I can do well against tough guys.
“I’m still going forward toward my goal of being a world champion.”
Follow Michael Rosenthal on Twitter @mrosenthal_box
In a quick two-step, Josh Warrington left Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Josh Warrington didn’t waste time. Neither did Eddie Hearn.
In a quick two-step, Warrington left Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and signed with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
“It’s great to be back with Matchroom, Sky and now DAZN, and I’m very excited about the future,” Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) said in a release Wednesday announcing his return to Matchroom. “I have enjoyed my time at BT [Sport], but now I’m looking forward to going on to achieve my dreams of both fighting in the USA and unifying the division.”
A news conference is scheduled for Thursday in Warrington’s hometown, Leeds, England.
Warrington has defended his 126-pound title three times, including a victory over Carl Frampton, since winning it by outpointing Lee Selby in May 2018.
Shakur Stevenson, who won a featherweight belt by beating Joet Gonzalez in October, has been calling out Warrington. However, Stevenson’s first title defense will be against Miguel Marriaga on March 14 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“I’m ecstatic to welcome Josh Warrington back to Matchroom,” said Hearn, who re-signed Warrington within hours after he split with Warren. “We had some amazing times helping to build Josh in Leeds, and now we re-unite at a time when he is the king of the division.
“Josh has some of the most loyal and passionate supporters in sport, and we look forward to delivering nights they will never forget. There is so much more for Josh to accomplish, and today starts a new chapter in the thrilling Josh Warrington story.”
Junior lightweight champ Leo Santa Cruz expects to fight again in May and his first choice of opponents is Gervonta Davis.
Leo Santa Cruz said he was told by his handlers that they’re targeting May for his next fight. And although nothing has been settled, it’s clear who he wants to take on: Gervonta Davis.
“That’s what I asked for,” Santa Cruz said on a FightHubTV video. “I said I want to fight Gervonta Davis. They said, yeah. Now it’s just a matter of talking to their team to see if they want it, to see if they could make it.
“… I think, more than likely, they’ll take it. Gervonta has said he wants to fight me. Leonard Ellerbe (of Mayweather Promotions, which handles Davis) wants that fight too. It’s just a matter of when and at what weight.”
One reason Santa Cruz wants the fight, he said, is to prove wrong fans who doubt his courage.
“People are saying I’m scared to fight champions, I’m scared to fight big names. I want to prove that I’m not scared,” he said. “… Gervonta Davis. He’s the most dangerous fighter. They say I’m scared of Gary Russell. I’m not scared of Gary Russell. The fight just hasn’t been able to be made.
“I’ve been asking for him. I’ve been asking for the big names. Oscar Valdez, Gary Russell, the third fight against [Carl] Frampton. Josh Warrington. All the big names.”
Santa Cruz believes a fight with Davis would take place at 130 pounds, at which Santa Cruz outpointed Miguel Flores to win a vacant title in November. He’d also be willing to face Davis at 135.
Whatever the weight, Santa Cruz expects a tough fight against Davis.
“He’s really skillful,” he said. “He looks for one-punch knockouts. We have to be smart. We’ll try to find sparring partners who have his style, really skillful, fast, with power. We’ll work on those things to avoid those big punches.
“He’s never had a fighter being on top of him, pressuring him, throwing a lot of punches. I think that might throw him off and be a big influence in the fight.”
Santa Cruz also could use his length against Davis.
“My dad says to use our distance,” he said. “We’re taller than him, we have a longer reach than Gervonta Davis. So I think that’s what we’re going to do, try to use our distance, keep on the outside, not get caught with big punches.
“We’ll try a little of both, try to pressure him, try to stay on top of him, throw punches punches. But if that’s not working, we’ll use our distance. Whatever works, whatever makes the fight easier, that’s what we’re going to do.”
One possible snag: Davis was recently arrested for allegedly assaulting the mother of his child. Is Santa Cruz worried that Davis’ legal problems will ruin his plans?
“Yeah, I am,” he said. “He has to go to court. They might not let him fight. He has to go through all this stuff first. … If the fight falls through, there are other big names. Gary Russell is one. That’d be a great fight. Jo Jo Diaz has been calling me out. There’s other big fights that can be made.
Scott Quigg will try to climb back into the championship mix as junior lightweight against Ireland’s Jono Carroll on March 7 in Manchester.
Scott Quigg, a former junior featherweight titleholder, will try to climb back into the championship mix as junior lightweight against Ireland’s Jono Carroll on March 7 at Manchester Arena on DAZN.
Quigg (35-2-2, 26 KOs) hasn’t fought in 16 months. He suffered an elbow injury that bumped him off the Dec. 7 card featuring heavyweight Anthony Joshua’s rematch victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia.
“The arm is fully healed now, and I’m already in great shape,’’ Quigg said in a Matchroom Boxing release announcing the 130-pound-fight. “This is a fight I’m really excited about. I’m looking forward to getting in there and taking him apart and showing that despite being out the ring for over a year and the injury, there is still a lot left in the tank.’’
Quigg has fought only once since he lost a decision to then-featherweight champion Oscar Valdez Jr. in March 2018 on a rainy night in an outdoor ring at Carson, California. Seven months later, he scored a TKO of Mario Briones in Boston.
“It’s great to be back fighting and headlining at Manchester Arena again and for my supporters to be able to see me back fighting on U.K. soil,’’ said Quigg, who defended a 122-pound belt five times before losing it to Carl Frampton by a split decision Feb 27, 2016, also in Manchester. “It’s a great platform for me to launch my career forward again and get my name back in the mix for a world title shot.”
Carroll (17-1-1, 3 KOs), of Dublin, lost a unanimous decision to junior featherweight champion Tevin Farmer on March 15 in Philadelphia. He came back with a unanimous decision over Eleazar Valenzuela on Aug. 24 in Mexico.
