Tag: Jamel Herring

Who Wins? Leo Santa Cruz vs. five potential opponents

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.

We started the series with our No. 1 boxer pound-for-pound, Vasiliy Lomachenko, and moved down the Boxing Junkie list to No. 2 Terence Crawford, No. 3 Canelo Alvarez, No. 4 Naoya Inoue, No. 5 Oleksandr Usyk  and No. 6 Gennady Golovkin, No. 7 Errol Spence Jr., No. 8 Tyson Fury, No. 9 Juan Francisco Estrada, No. 10 Mikey Garcia, No. 11 Artur Beterbiev and No. 12 Josh Taylor, No. 13 Manny Pacquiao and No. 14 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

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.

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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.

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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.

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THE FINAL TALLY

Leo Santa Cruz: 5-10 (0 KOs)

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THE STANDINGS

Canelo Alvarez: 15-0 (6 KOs)
Naoya Inoue: 14-0-1 (5 KOs)
Vassiliy Lomachenko: 14-0-1 (4 KOs)
Artur Beterbiev: 14-1 (11 KOs)
Tyson Fury: 14-1 (8 KOs)
Terence Crawford: 14-1 (3 KOs)
Errol Spence Jr.: 13-2 (6 KOs)
Oleksandr Usyk: 10-5 (2 KOs)
Juan Francisco Estrada: 9-5-1 (1 KOs)
Gennadiy Golovkin: 9-6 (5 KOs)
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai: 8-7 (5 KOs)
Josh Taylor: 7-6-2 (2 KOs)
Mikey Garcia: 7-8 (0 KOs)
Leo Santa Cruz: 5-10 (0 KOs)
Manny Pacquiao: 3-12 (0 KOs)

 

Read more:

Who wins? Vassiliy Lomachenko vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Terence Crawford vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Canelo Alvarez vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Naoya Inoue vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Oleksandr Usyk vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Gennadiy Golovkin vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Errol Spence Jr. vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Juan Francisco Estrada vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Tyson Fury vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Mikey Garcia vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Artur Beterbiev vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Josh Taylor vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Manny Pacquiao vs. five potential opponents

Who wins? Srisaket Sor Rungvisai vs. five potential opponents

Carl Frampton training alone for a fight without a date

Carl Frampton is at home in Belfast, training by himself for a fight against Jamel Herring that has been announced but not scheduled.

It’s OK to use your elbows these days. In fact, it’s almost mandatory. It’s called social distancing. The elbow, prohibited in the ring, is the way to say hello on the street. Coronavirus is changing the way people interact and boxers train.

At least, it has for Carl Frampton.

Boxing is already lonely enough, but it’s become even more so for Frampton.

He’s at home in Belfast, training by himself for a fight that has been announced yet has not been scheduled. He and Jamel Herring agreed, presumably sealing the deal with an elbow bump instead of a handshake, on a junior lightweight title fight. Frampton hopes for an opening bell in June but knows that’s unlikely.

“I very much doubt the Herring fight will happen in June, but I am training now as if it is, until I hear otherwise,” Frampton told BBC Sport.

Fights are still on the schedule in May and into June. But the cancellations are like falling dominoes. They are expected to continue until the pandemic subsides. Nobody knows when that will happen. If and when it does, there will be a scramble to re-schedule. It’s mess now. It’ll be a mess for a while.

Meanwhile, Frampton can only maintain his conditioning and social distancing. His trainer, Jamie Moore, is in Manchester, England.

“There are a lot more important things to be worrying about,” the former junior featherweight and featherweight champion said. “It wouldn’t be fair on either fighter to prepare for a world title fight in circumstances like this.

“… It’s very difficult to work on tactics and a game plan without a trainer.”

Meanwhile, Frampton is urging that promoters, ruling bodies and regulatory agencies to put together some kind of plan on what to do during the virus threat. And after it.

“The British Boxing Board of Control needs to come together with the promoters and devise some sort of plan for self-employed boxers at this difficult time,” Frampton said. “There is more chance and more likelihood of the bigger fights taking place behind closed doors rather than smaller fights because TV covers a lot of money.

“But at this time everyone is in limbo and doesn’t know what is going on.”

Jamel Herring, Carl Frampton agree to fight. When? Who knows?

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.

Andrew Cancio makes move to Top Rank official

Former junior lightweight titleholder Andrew Cancio, who left Golden Boy under difficult circumstances, signed with Top Rank on Thursday.

It was a blue-collar promise from a blue-collar boxer.

Andrew Cancio, a former junior lightweight champion who works for the gas company when he isn’t in the ring, said he’d be back after Golden Boy fired him three days before Thanksgiving, just a few days after he lost his title and ripped the promotional company.

Cancio is back, fulfilling a promise the way he completes a job.

Top Rank signed him Thursday.

In announcing the multi-fight deal, Top Rank, miraculously, didn’t mention Golden Boy.

“He was a free agent, miraculously, and we didn’t hesitate to make a deal with him and his team,” Top Rank’s Bob Arum said in a statement.

Miracles happen. So, too, does some subtle trash talk.

There’s nothing subtle about Cancio’s power or his working-man appeal. He is the West Coast’s version of Joe Smith Jr., a Long Island, New York laborer when he isn’t knocking Bernard Hopkins out of the ring or beating Jesse Hart.

Cancio (21-5-2, 16 KOs), who is from the Colorado River town of Blythe, California, stunned Alberto Machado last February, knocking him out in four rounds for a 130-pound belt. In a rematch four months later, he needed only three rounds to stop Machado.

On November 23, however, Cancio’s championship run came to an abrupt end. Rene Alvarado of Nicaragua knocked him out in seven rounds. He had knocked out Alvarado in December 2015

“I’m very grateful to begin the next chapter of my career with Bob Arum and the entire Top Rank team,” said Cancio, who criticized Golden Boy in a Los Angeles Times’ story for not promoting his blue-collar roots with appearances on bigger cards. “I look forward to returning to the ring in front of my army of supporters and am fully prepared to fight my way towards becoming a world champion again.’’

Cancio is expected to make his first appearance for Top Rank in April on ESPN. He provides another matchmaking possibility for Top Rank’s other junior lightweights, including Miguel Berchelt (honorable mention pound-for-pound), Jamel Herring, Oscar Valdez Jr., Carl Frampton and Masayuki Ito.

Andrew Cancio to sign with Top Rank: report

Andrew Cancio to sign with Top Rank: report

Andrew Cancio, who recently left Golden Boy Promotions, reportedly has signed a multi-fight deal with Top Rank.

Andrew Cancio will soon be back to working two jobs.

The former junior lightweight titleholder and Southern California day laborer has reportedly signed a multi-fight deal with Top Rank, just two months after he was released by former promoter Golden Boy for voicing his discontent with the company before his knockout loss to Rene Alvarado on Nov. 23.

Cancio, who crafted one of the best feel-good stories of last year by upsetting then titleholder Alberto Machado twice, took his ex-promoter to task for what he perceived was a lack of a promotional boost. After Cancio’s loss to Alvarado via seventh-round stoppage, Golden Boy promptly dropped the fighter from its roster.

“He wanted bigger purses and he wanted to fight in bigger venues,” Golden Boy president Eric Gomez told ESPN. “He didn’t think Golden Boy was providing that for him so we released him and wish him all the best. I hope he finds what he’s looking for.”

Cancio’s new promotional deal with Top Rank means he joins a packed stable of 130-pounders, including titleholders Miguel Berchelt and Jamel Herring, as well as contenders Carl Frampton and Oscar Valdez.

Cancio isn’t the only ex-Golden Boy fighter on the move. Longtime Golden Boy client and junior featherweight titleholder Rey Vargas reportedly signed with Premier Boxing champions.

 

Carl Frampton says hands will be fine for Jamel Herring fight in May

Carl Frampton said reports that he’ll have to delay a planned fight against Jamel Herring in May are wrong.

Carl Frampton dismissed speculation that recovery from hand surgery will force a postponement of his planned fight in May against junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Frampton’s hometown.

Frampton underwent surgery during the week before Christmas for fractures he sustained in both hands in a unanimous decision over Tyler McCreary on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas.

“Everything is going where it needs to be and I’m looking forward to getting back to training,’’ Frampton (27-2, 15 KOs) told MTK Global, an international agency that represents about 100 fighters. “I’m itching to get back in there.”

A story in the Irish Times reported that the fight would be delayed until June or July because Frampton would not be ready. The newspaper quoted Herring as saying he didn’t foresee “a fight happening in Belfast any time soon.”

The newspaper speculated that Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) would take a possible interim fight on March 15 in New York.

“Someone showed me an article that said sources had told them the hands won’t be ready for May,’’ Frampton said. “I don’t know where these sources are coming from, but they’ve got it wrong.

“I’ve had both hands operated on, and they’re sore, but the surgeon was happy with how the operations went. He said I’ve got plenty of time. He said I could be punching within six weeks after the surgery.

“Even if I waited 10 weeks to start punching, it would still be plenty of time to get ready for May. I have another appointment with the specialist at the end of the month, and we’ll know more after that, but the pain is easing every day, and I’ve got more movement in both hands every day.’’

Jamel Herring vs. Carl Frampton to land in N. Ireland, Bob Arum says

Jamel Herring’s next title defense against Carl Frampton will take place in Belfast, according to promoter Bob Arum.

A projected junior lightweight showdown between titleholder Jamel Herring and Carl Frampton will most likely take place in Frampton’s hometown of Belfast, North Ireland, where he is a big draw, according to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

“Herring has agreed to go to Belfast, and that is the fight we will do as soon as Frampton is fit to fight again,” Arum told BoxingScene.com.

Frampton recently broke both of his hands in an otherwise dominating 12-round decision over Ohio’s Tyler McCreary last December. Hand problems have been an ongoing issue for Frampton. He broke his left hand when a pillar in a hotel lobby fell and landed on it in August.

Frampton shot down recent rumors that his hands would not heal in time for a possible match-up in the spring.

The opportunity to fight Herring allows Frampton to become a potential three-division titleholder.

Herring is coming off a successful first defense of his title against Lamont Roach in November, winning by unanimous decision.

Carl Frampton to have surgery on both hands, will be out until at least May

Carl Frampton is scheduled to have surgery on both hands on Dec. 20 and will not fight again until at least May.

Carl Frampton will undergo surgery for injuries in both hands, he wrote Sunday in a story for the Belfast Telegraph.

The procedures, scheduled for Dec. 20, are expected to keep him out of the ring until at least May, writes Frampton, a former featherweight champion who hopes for a shot at the junior lightweight belt held by Jamel Herring.

Frampton (27-2, 15 KOs) went into his 130-pound debut, a unanimous decision over Tyler McReary (16-2, 7 KOs) on Nov. 30 at Las Vegas’ Cosmopolitan, with an injured left hand. He said he hurt his right midway through the bout.

“I went into the fight with a fractured left hand and then finished the fight with a broken right hand,’’ he wrote.

“I think it was in the seventh round I caught McCreary to the forehead and the right hand went.’’

Frampton, 32, decided to fight McReary despite re-injuring his left hand in the final sparring session before the opening bell. He first injured the hand in a freak accident in August, forcing him to withdraw from a fight with Emmanuel Dominguez in Philadelphia. A “large ornament’ in a hotel lobby fell on the hand, he said then.

“A lot of people had paid money to see me in Philadelphia last summer, and that fight unfortunately fell through because of my broken left hand, so I couldn’t let the fans down a second time,’’ he wrote Sunday.

He also said the Nevada State Athletic Commission would not allow an injection that would have eased pain in the left hand.

“The left land had what they call a non-displaced fracture, but because of the damage in the fight, it is now a displaced fracture on the metacarpal. In other words, the bone has moved and I need a pin and plate in it,’’ he said.  “The good thing is that I will be able to rest both hands for a good while to make sure they are spot on for the fight with Herring.’’

Carl Frampton fractured both hands in fight with Tyler McCreary

Carl Frampton revealed on his Twitter that he had suffered fractures in both of his hands during his fight against Tyler McCreary.

It turns out there was a good reason Carl Frampton decided to go almost exclusively to the body in his fight against Tyler McCreary this past Saturday in Las Vegas: He had suffered fractures in both hands during the fight.

The junior lightweight from Northern Ireland revealed the news on his Twitter account.

Frampton has had hand issues in the past, most recently in August, when a freak accident scuttled his fight with Emmanuel Dominguez in Philadelphia days before the event. Frampton was sitting in a hotel lobby when a concrete pillar fell over and landed on his left hand, breaking the fifth metacarpal bone. That’s the same bone he broke in the fight.

Frampton also said immediately after the fight that he had suffered two fractures in his hands – including that same bone – during training camp before the McCreary fight.

“I refractured it twice in the camp but I knew a lot of people were coming here to support me,” he said in the ring. “There was absolutely no way I wasn’t fighting. I did 26 or 28 rounds of sparring because of the hand but I had to fight.”

Frampton is expected to face 130-pound titleholder Jamel Herring, who is coming off a recent points win over Lamont Roach. Herring entered the ring after Frampton’s win over McCreary, as both fighters expressed their interest in facing one another. The fight is expected to land on St. Patrick’s Day, either in Belfast or in New York City.

“I’d love for it to be in Belfast, but would also be game to fight him in New York if I have to,” Frampton said afterward.