Jamel Herring makes strong impression with first-round knockout

Jamel Herring made a strong impression with a first-round knockout of journeyman Nick Molina on Tuesday in New York City.

No journeyman is going to beat Jamel Herring, even a 38-year-old version.

That became obvious quickly on Tuesday night at Edison Ballroom in New York City, where the former 130-pound titleholder needed less than one full round to take out Nick Molina in a scheduled eight-round 133-pound fight.

It was Herring’s first victory since he stopped Carl Frampton in 2021, which was followed by back-to-back losses to Shakur Stevenson — which cost him his belt and momentum — and Jamaine Ortiz.

The left-handed New Yorker had been out of the ring since May of last year.

“I had to make a statement,” Herring said afterward. “… At the end of the day everyone thought I was over the hill and said whatever, that I didn’t have it anymore. [New trainer] Wayne McCullough said from the jump that I have more in the tank.

“… You can make it an ugly win or you can make an impression.”

Herring (24-4, 12 KOs) made an impression early, hammering Molina (13-1, 5 KOs) with a straight left that might’ve broken his nose.

Then, about half way through the round, a combination put Molina down for the first of two times. Herring dropped the Lowell, Massachusetts fighter again in the final seconds, which prompted referee Arther Mercante Jr. to stop the fight.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:49.

McCullough was among those impressed.

“When he first came to me, I said, ‘Do you still want it?’” said McCullough, a former 118-pound champ. “He said right away that he wanted it. So we worked the last few weeks. … And you saw tonight what he did. He got the fight over with quickly.”

What’s next for Herring, who has taken part in five world title fights?

His first choice would be to take a trip over the pond to the U.K., where some of the top 130-pounders reside. As he said, “I want to fight the best.”

“I want to go on a European tour,” he said. “What I mean by that is I want to fight guys like my friend (and beltholder) Joe Cordina, Leigh Wood or even Josh Warrington.

“And I would gladly go to the U.K. If I can’t get that, I know my boy Lamont Roach has a big fight coming up (against titleholder Hector Luis Garcia). I know he wants to run it back (after losing to Hering in 2019).

“If not that, I’d love to come back home to New York. Or I’d love to fight in my second home of Cincinnati, Ohio.”

Yes, Herring suddenly has a lot of options again. He’s back, at least for now.

Jamel Herring makes strong impression with first-round knockout

Jamel Herring made a strong impression with a first-round knockout of journeyman Nick Molina on Tuesday in New York City.

No journeyman is going to beat Jamel Herring, even a 38-year-old version.

That became obvious quickly on Tuesday night at Edison Ballroom in New York City, where the former 130-pound titleholder needed less than one full round to take out Nick Molina in a scheduled eight-round 133-pound fight.

It was Herring’s first victory since he stopped Carl Frampton in 2021, which was followed by back-to-back losses to Shakur Stevenson — which cost him his belt and momentum — and Jamaine Ortiz.

The left-handed New Yorker had been out of the ring since May of last year.

“I had to make a statement,” Herring said afterward. “… At the end of the day everyone thought I was over the hill and said whatever, that I didn’t have it anymore. [New trainer] Wayne McCullough said from the jump that I have more in the tank.

“… You can make it an ugly win or you can make an impression.”

Herring (24-4, 12 KOs) made an impression early, hammering Molina (13-1, 5 KOs) with a straight left that might’ve broken his nose.

Then, about half way through the round, a combination put Molina down for the first of two times. Herring dropped the Lowell, Massachusetts fighter again in the final seconds, which prompted referee Arther Mercante Jr. to stop the fight.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:49.

McCullough was among those impressed.

“When he first came to me, I said, ‘Do you still want it?’” said McCullough, a former 118-pound champ. “He said right away that he wanted it. So we worked the last few weeks. … And you saw tonight what he did. He got the fight over with quickly.”

What’s next for Herring, who has taken part in five world title fights?

His first choice would be to take a trip over the pond to the U.K., where some of the top 130-pounders reside. As he said, “I want to fight the best.”

“I want to go on a European tour,” he said. “What I mean by that is I want to fight guys like my friend (and beltholder) Joe Cordina, Leigh Wood or even Josh Warrington.

“And I would gladly go to the U.K. If I can’t get that, I know my boy Lamont Roach has a big fight coming up (against titleholder Hector Luis Garcia). I know he wants to run it back (after losing to Hering in 2019).

“If not that, I’d love to come back home to New York. Or I’d love to fight in my second home of Cincinnati, Ohio.”

Yes, Herring suddenly has a lot of options again. He’s back, at least for now.

Jamel Herring: ‘I wanted to test myself’ in comeback fight

Jamel Herring: ‘I wanted to test myself’ in comeback fight Tuesday in New York City.

Is this do or die for Jamel Herring?

The former 130-pound titleholder will be fighting for his boxing life when he faces journeyman Nick Molina on Saturday night at Edison Ballroom in New York City (DAZN).

That’s the reality for a once-respected fighter who has lost back-to-back fights, is 38 and hasn’t been in the ring for a year and a half.

His choice of opponent, one without big-fight experience, is more of a test to determine what he has left in the tank rather than an opportunity to re-establish his credentials.

“I chose this fight because if you can’t get past Nick Molina, how can you get past world champions, the Joe Cordinas, Emanuel Navarretes, Hector Garcias?” Herring said on the Big Fight Weekend podcast.

“… I chose Nick Molina, younger, undefeated, I’m pretty sure he’s hungry, because I wanted to test myself and push myself.”

Herring (23-4, 11 KOs) was blown out by Shakur Stevenson in October 2021, losing all but one round on two cards and getting stopped in 10 rounds to lose his belt and momentum.

That was followed by unanimous decision loss to Jamaine Ortiz in May of last year, which raised questions about Herring’s future as an elite fighter.

Herring maintained his fighting spirit in those setbacks but he identified one nagging problem: He was too easy to hit, which his opponents exploited. He has been working on defense with former 118-pound titleholder Wayne McCullough.

“I’m not getting any younger,” Herring said. “I know where I’m at. I feel great. And I have the great Wayne McCullough in my corner. I have to be honest with myself. I’m a U.S. Marine. I have integrity.

“The main thing I’m looking for in my game is defense. I can fight, I can be that dog in the ring because I have the military grit behind me, but I lack the defensive aspect at times.

“Being here with Wayne gave me so much confidence. … I can still be in the fire without being burned. That can go a long way.”

Even a defense-challenge Herring could probably get past the relatively inexperienced Molina (13-0, 5 KOs).

It’s in his following fight — presumably against a top-tier foe — that we’ll truly know whether Herring still has the ability to fight at a championship level.

[lawrence-related id=39578,24944,24935]

Jamel Herring: ‘I wanted to test myself’ in comeback fight

Jamel Herring: ‘I wanted to test myself’ in comeback fight Tuesday in New York City.

Is this do or die for Jamel Herring?

The former 130-pound titleholder will be fighting for his boxing life when he faces journeyman Nick Molina on Saturday night at Edison Ballroom in New York City (DAZN).

That’s the reality for a once-respected fighter who has lost back-to-back fights, is 38 and hasn’t been in the ring for a year and a half.

His choice of opponent, one without big-fight experience, is more of a test to determine what he has left in the tank rather than an opportunity to re-establish his credentials.

“I chose this fight because if you can’t get past Nick Molina, how can you get past world champions, the Joe Cordinas, Emanuel Navarretes, Hector Garcias?” Herring said on the Big Fight Weekend podcast.

“… I chose Nick Molina, younger, undefeated, I’m pretty sure he’s hungry, because I wanted to test myself and push myself.”

Herring (23-4, 11 KOs) was blown out by Shakur Stevenson in October 2021, losing all but one round on two cards and getting stopped in 10 rounds to lose his belt and momentum.

That was followed by unanimous decision loss to Jamaine Ortiz in May of last year, which raised questions about Herring’s future as an elite fighter.

Herring maintained his fighting spirit in those setbacks but he identified one nagging problem: He was too easy to hit, which his opponents exploited. He has been working on defense with former 118-pound titleholder Wayne McCullough.

“I’m not getting any younger,” Herring said. “I know where I’m at. I feel great. And I have the great Wayne McCullough in my corner. I have to be honest with myself. I’m a U.S. Marine. I have integrity.

“The main thing I’m looking for in my game is defense. I can fight, I can be that dog in the ring because I have the military grit behind me, but I lack the defensive aspect at times.

“Being here with Wayne gave me so much confidence. … I can still be in the fire without being burned. That can go a long way.”

Even a defense-challenge Herring could probably get past the relatively inexperienced Molina (13-0, 5 KOs).

It’s in his following fight — presumably against a top-tier foe — that we’ll truly know whether Herring still has the ability to fight at a championship level.

[lawrence-related id=39578,24944,24935]

Jamel Herring vs. Nick Molina: Date, time, how to watch, background

Jamel Herring vs. Nick Molina: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring will be fighting journeyman Nick Molina on Tuesday in an attempt to keep his career alive at 38 years old.

JAMEL HERRING (23-4, 11 KOs)
VS. NICK MOLINA (13-0, 5 KOs)

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Edison Ballroom, New York
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Mikiah Kreps vs. Isis Vargas Perez, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Herring UD
  • Background: Jamel Herring is facing a soft touch in his bid to keep his career alive. The 38-year-old former 130-pound champ is coming off back-to-back losses, a 10th-round knockout against a dominating Shakur Stevenson that cost him his belt in October 2021 and a unanimous decision against current 140-pound contender Jamaine Ortiz in a 135-pound bout in May of last year. He will have been out of the ring for almost a year and a half when he faces Molina, who appears to be a safe opponent for Herring in the scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout. The 24-year-old from Lowell, Massachusetts is unbeaten but will be taking a significant step up in opposition, at least in terms of Herring’s experience and accomplishments. Molina last fought on July 14, when he easily outpointed club fighter Aldimar Silva in a six-round 135-pound fight. He has never fought below 133 pounds.

[lawrence-related id=24944,24935]

Jamel Herring vs. Nick Molina: Date, time, how to watch, background

Jamel Herring vs. Nick Molina: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring will be fighting journeyman Nick Molina on Tuesday in an attempt to keep his career alive at 38 years old.

JAMEL HERRING (23-4, 11 KOs)
VS. NICK MOLINA (13-0, 5 KOs)

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Edison Ballroom, New York
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Mikiah Kreps vs. Isis Vargas Perez, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Herring UD
  • Background: Jamel Herring is facing a soft touch in his bid to keep his career alive. The 38-year-old former 130-pound champ is coming off back-to-back losses, a 10th-round knockout against a dominating Shakur Stevenson that cost him his belt in October 2021 and a unanimous decision against current 140-pound contender Jamaine Ortiz in a 135-pound bout in May of last year. He will have been out of the ring for almost a year and a half when he faces Molina, who appears to be a safe opponent for Herring in the scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout. The 24-year-old from Lowell, Massachusetts is unbeaten but will be taking a significant step up in opposition, at least in terms of Herring’s experience and accomplishments. Molina last fought on July 14, when he easily outpointed club fighter Aldimar Silva in a six-round 135-pound fight. He has never fought below 133 pounds.

[lawrence-related id=24944,24935]

Fight Week: Jamel Herring will be battling Tuesday to remain elite fighter

Fight Week: Jamel Herring will be battling to remain elite fighter when he faces Nick Molina on Tuesday in New York City.

FIGHT WEEK

Former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring will be fighting journeyman Nick Molina on Tuesday in an attempt to keep his career alive at 38 years old.

JAMEL HERRING (23-4, 11 KOs)
VS. NICK MOLINA (13-0, 5 KOs)

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Edison Ballroom, New York
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Mikiah Kreps vs. Isis Vargas Perez, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Herring UD
  • Background: Jamel Herring is facing a soft touch in his bid to keep his career alive. The 38-year-old former 130-pound champ is coming off back-to-back losses, a 10th-round knockout against a dominating Shakur Stevenson that cost him his belt in October 2021 and a unanimous decision against current 140-pound contender Jamaine Ortiz in a 135-pound bout in May of last year. He will have been out of the ring for almost a year and a half when he faces Molina, who appears to be a safe opponent for Herring in the scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout. The 24-year-old from Lowell, Massachusetts is unbeaten but will be taking a significant step up in opposition, at least in terms of Herring’s experience and accomplishments. Molina last fought on July 14, when he easily outpointed club fighter Aldimar Silva in a six-round 135-pound fight. He has never fought below 133 pounds.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

  • Callum Walsh vs. Ismael Villarreal, junior middleweights, New York (UFC Fight Pass)

FRIDAY

  • Sonny Conto vs. Detrailious Webster, heavyweights (BXNGTV)

SATURDAY

  • Ewan Mackenzie vs. Ishmael Davis, junior middleweights, Newcastle, England (DAZN)
  • Tito Mercao vs. Jeremia Nakathila, junior welterweights, Ontario, California (Fight City Promotions YouTube)
  • Donovan Ruddock vs. James Toney, heavyweights, Kingston, Jamaica (exhibition) (FITE)

[lawrence-related id=24944,24935]

Fight Week: Jamel Herring will be battling Tuesday to remain elite fighter

Fight Week: Jamel Herring will be battling to remain elite fighter when he faces Nick Molina on Tuesday in New York City.

FIGHT WEEK

Former 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring will be fighting journeyman Nick Molina on Tuesday in an attempt to keep his career alive at 38 years old.

JAMEL HERRING (23-4, 11 KOs)
VS. NICK MOLINA (13-0, 5 KOs)

  • Date: Tuesday, Nov. 7
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Edison Ballroom, New York
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Mikiah Kreps vs. Isis Vargas Perez, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Herring UD
  • Background: Jamel Herring is facing a soft touch in his bid to keep his career alive. The 38-year-old former 130-pound champ is coming off back-to-back losses, a 10th-round knockout against a dominating Shakur Stevenson that cost him his belt in October 2021 and a unanimous decision against current 140-pound contender Jamaine Ortiz in a 135-pound bout in May of last year. He will have been out of the ring for almost a year and a half when he faces Molina, who appears to be a safe opponent for Herring in the scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout. The 24-year-old from Lowell, Massachusetts is unbeaten but will be taking a significant step up in opposition, at least in terms of Herring’s experience and accomplishments. Molina last fought on July 14, when he easily outpointed club fighter Aldimar Silva in a six-round 135-pound fight. He has never fought below 133 pounds.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

  • Callum Walsh vs. Ismael Villarreal, junior middleweights, New York (UFC Fight Pass)

FRIDAY

  • Sonny Conto vs. Detrailious Webster, heavyweights (BXNGTV)

SATURDAY

  • Ewan Mackenzie vs. Ishmael Davis, junior middleweights, Newcastle, England (DAZN)
  • Tito Mercao vs. Jeremia Nakathila, junior welterweights, Ontario, California (Fight City Promotions YouTube)
  • Donovan Ruddock vs. James Toney, heavyweights, Kingston, Jamaica (exhibition) (FITE)

[lawrence-related id=24944,24935]

Pound-for-pound: Welcome aboard, Shakur Stevenson

Pound-for-pound: Welcome aboard, Shakur Stevenson.

Shakur Stevenson has made it impossible to keep him off Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

The gifted junior lightweight has now won major titles in two divisions and we saw what we saw on Saturday, a brilliant performance against a quality opponent in reigning beltholder Jamel Herring.

Stevenson has a combination of speed and ability that might be unrivaled among active fighters. It was certainly too much for the veteran Herring, who was dominated from the opening bell and stopped in the 10th round.

In the process, the winner claimed the WBO 130-pound title and a place among the pound-for-pound best. Stevenson comes in as an Honorable Mention, although our best bet is that the 24-year-old will begin a steady climb.

He replaces Kazuto Ioka, who was an Honorable Mention going into Saturday.

Here’s how the new list looks:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight title against Shawn Porter on Nov. 20 Las Vegas.
  2. Canelo Alvarez – Scheduled to fight Caleb Plant to unify all four major 168-pound titles on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas.
  3. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  4. Oleksandr Usyk – Expected to fight Anthony Joshua a second time but no deal is in place.
  5. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  6. Teofimo Lopez Jr. – Scheduled to defend his lightweight titles against George Kambosos Jr. on Nov. 27 in New York.
  7. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Expected to fight Richard Commey on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City but the deal hasn’t be finalized.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – In talks to defend his WBA and WBA junior bantamweight titles in what would be a third fight against Roman Gonzalez in November.
  10. Gennadiy Golovkin – In talks to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight title-unification fight on Dec. 28 in Japan.
  11. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  12. Josh Taylor – Scheduled to defend his undisputed junior welterweight championship against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall on Dec. 18 in Glasgow, Scotland.
  13. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his light heavyweight titles against Marcus Browne on Dec. 17 in Montreal.
  14. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Rolando Romero in a lightweight bout on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles.
  15. Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled).

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Mairis Briedis (scheduled to fight Artur Mann on Oct. 16 in Riga, Latvia), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (expected to meet Carlos Cuadras as part of a junior bantamweight tournament but nothing is official), Yordenis Ugas (no fight scheduled) and Oscar Valdez (no fight scheduled).

 

Pound-for-pound: Welcome aboard, Shakur Stevenson

Pound-for-pound: Welcome aboard, Shakur Stevenson.

Shakur Stevenson has made it impossible to keep him off Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

The gifted junior lightweight has now won major titles in two divisions and we saw what we saw on Saturday, a brilliant performance against a quality opponent in reigning beltholder Jamel Herring.

Stevenson has a combination of speed and ability that might be unrivaled among active fighters. It was certainly too much for the veteran Herring, who was dominated from the opening bell and stopped in the 10th round.

In the process, the winner claimed the WBO 130-pound title and a place among the pound-for-pound best. Stevenson comes in as an Honorable Mention, although our best bet is that the 24-year-old will begin a steady climb.

He replaces Kazuto Ioka, who was an Honorable Mention going into Saturday.

Here’s how the new list looks:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Scheduled to defend his WBO welterweight title against Shawn Porter on Nov. 20 Las Vegas.
  2. Canelo Alvarez – Scheduled to fight Caleb Plant to unify all four major 168-pound titles on Nov. 6 in Las Vegas.
  3. Naoya Inoue – No fight scheduled.
  4. Oleksandr Usyk – Expected to fight Anthony Joshua a second time but no deal is in place.
  5. Errol Spence Jr. – No fight scheduled.
  6. Teofimo Lopez Jr. – Scheduled to defend his lightweight titles against George Kambosos Jr. on Nov. 27 in New York.
  7. Tyson Fury – No fight scheduled.
  8. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Expected to fight Richard Commey on Dec. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City but the deal hasn’t be finalized.
  9. Juan Francisco Estrada – In talks to defend his WBA and WBA junior bantamweight titles in what would be a third fight against Roman Gonzalez in November.
  10. Gennadiy Golovkin – In talks to fight Ryota Murata in a middleweight title-unification fight on Dec. 28 in Japan.
  11. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  12. Josh Taylor – Scheduled to defend his undisputed junior welterweight championship against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall on Dec. 18 in Glasgow, Scotland.
  13. Artur Beterbiev – Scheduled to defend his light heavyweight titles against Marcus Browne on Dec. 17 in Montreal.
  14. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Rolando Romero in a lightweight bout on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles.
  15. Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled).

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): Mairis Briedis (scheduled to fight Artur Mann on Oct. 16 in Riga, Latvia), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (expected to meet Carlos Cuadras as part of a junior bantamweight tournament but nothing is official), Yordenis Ugas (no fight scheduled) and Oscar Valdez (no fight scheduled).