Tag: Leigh Wood

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.

Joe Cordina gets past Edward Vazquez to retain 130-pound title

Joe Cordina defeated Edward Vazquez by a majority decision to retain his 130-pound title on Saturday in Monte Carlo.

Joe Cordina didn’t sparkle but he was good enough.

The unbeaten 130-pound titleholder from Wales defeated Edward Vazquez by a majority decision to retain his belt on Saturday night in Monte Carlo. The official scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 114-114.

Cordina (17-0, 9 KOs) looked good at times, fighting behind his jab, but he could never separate himself from the capable Vazquez (15-2, 3 KOs) in a close fight.

The beltholder outlanded the challenger only 170 to 164 overall, according to CompuBox.

“He’s tricky and he’s clever,” Cordina said afterward, per ESPN. “I had to track him down and work him out. Going into the 10th, my trainer told me it was level. I didn’t box to my best, but I still think I did enough to win. There are no marks on my face, but there are marks on his.

“I didn’t perform to my best, and he couldn’t beat me on my worst night, and he’s a sore loser.”

An angry Vazquez was convinced he deserved the victory.

“I will be back,” he said. “Everyone watching around the world knows I won. [Matchroom promoter] Eddie Hearn knows I won. He wasn’t able to do what he wanted to, he had no power, he couldn’t land his right hand or left hook, and all the others at 130 pounds will walk through him.”

Two potential opponents for Cordina are fellow titleholders Emanuel Navarrete and O’Shaquie Foster, as well as 126-pound champ Leigh Wood of England.

Cordina was making his first defense in his second reign as IBF titleholder. The 2016 Olympian won the belt by stopping Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in June of last year, his first major belt.

He was then stripped after a hand injury forced him to pull out of a defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov that was scheduled for last November, after which Rakhimov stopped Zelfa Barrett to win the title. And, finally, Cordina defeated Rakhimov by a split decision to regain the belt on April 22.

Joe Cordina gets past Edward Vazquez to retain 130-pound title

Joe Cordina defeated Edward Vazquez by a majority decision to retain his 130-pound title on Saturday in Monte Carlo.

Joe Cordina didn’t sparkle but he was good enough.

The unbeaten 130-pound titleholder from Wales defeated Edward Vazquez by a majority decision to retain his belt on Saturday night in Monte Carlo. The official scores were 116-112, 116-112 and 114-114.

Cordina (17-0, 9 KOs) looked good at times, fighting behind his jab, but he could never separate himself from the capable Vazquez (15-2, 3 KOs) in a close fight.

The beltholder outlanded the challenger only 170 to 164 overall, according to CompuBox.

“He’s tricky and he’s clever,” Cordina said afterward, per ESPN. “I had to track him down and work him out. Going into the 10th, my trainer told me it was level. I didn’t box to my best, but I still think I did enough to win. There are no marks on my face, but there are marks on his.

“I didn’t perform to my best, and he couldn’t beat me on my worst night, and he’s a sore loser.”

An angry Vazquez was convinced he deserved the victory.

“I will be back,” he said. “Everyone watching around the world knows I won. [Matchroom promoter] Eddie Hearn knows I won. He wasn’t able to do what he wanted to, he had no power, he couldn’t land his right hand or left hook, and all the others at 130 pounds will walk through him.”

Two potential opponents for Cordina are fellow titleholders Emanuel Navarrete and O’Shaquie Foster, as well as 126-pound champ Leigh Wood of England.

Cordina was making his first defense in his second reign as IBF titleholder. The 2016 Olympian won the belt by stopping Kenichi Ogawa in the second round in June of last year, his first major belt.

He was then stripped after a hand injury forced him to pull out of a defense against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov that was scheduled for last November, after which Rakhimov stopped Zelfa Barrett to win the title. And, finally, Cordina defeated Rakhimov by a split decision to regain the belt on April 22.

Weekend Review: Gilberto Ramirez back, Leigh Wood delivers more drama

Weekend Review: Gilberto Ramirez is back and Leigh Wood delivered more drama.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Gilberto Ramirez

The former 168-pound titleholder is back, such as that is. Light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol exposed his limitations by easily outpointing him this past November. That fight demonstrated that Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) is a solid, unusually durable boxer but doesn’t’ have the speed, athleticism or punching power (at the higher weights) to take down a pound-for-pound talent. Joe Smith Jr. (28-5, 22 KOs)? That’s a different story. Ramirez will generally thrive against an opponent like that, as we saw when he defeated the even-more limited American by a one-sided decision at a 193-pound catch weight Saturday in Las Vegas. It wasn’t exciting but it was efficient. Ramirez is talented and experienced enough to do better at 200 pounds than has at 175, where Bivol and Artur Beterbiev still reside. Ramirez will never be a special fighter but he has a decent chance of winning a major belt in a second division 32 pounds heavier than the limit at super middleweight, at which he won his first title. That’s special.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Leigh Wood

The 126-pound titleholder probably won’t be remembered as one of the best fighters England has produced. He’s one of the most exciting, though. The same man who knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring in the final round to win a fight he was losing last year delivered another unlikely victory on Saturday in Sheffield, where he was behind on the cards and was nearly stopped himself only to brutally knock out former champion Josh Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs) in the seventh round and retain his title. Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) was losing all three cards at the time. To say the 35-year-old from Nottingham has the flair for the dramatic is an understatement. I don’t know whether he has the ability to unify at featherweight or win a title at 130 pounds. I do know that his solid ability, toughness and never-ever-say-die mentality would give him a chance to beat anyone. Win or lose, you can bet he’s going to entertain the fans. It’s no wonder he’s so popular in his home town.

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Weekend Review: Gilberto Ramirez back, Leigh Wood delivers more drama

Weekend Review: Gilberto Ramirez is back and Leigh Wood delivered more drama.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Gilberto Ramirez

The former 168-pound titleholder is back, such as that is. Light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol exposed his limitations by easily outpointing him this past November. That fight demonstrated that Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) is a solid, unusually durable boxer but doesn’t’ have the speed, athleticism or punching power (at the higher weights) to take down a pound-for-pound talent. Joe Smith Jr. (28-5, 22 KOs)? That’s a different story. Ramirez will generally thrive against an opponent like that, as we saw when he defeated the even-more limited American by a one-sided decision at a 193-pound catch weight Saturday in Las Vegas. It wasn’t exciting but it was efficient. Ramirez is talented and experienced enough to do better at 200 pounds than has at 175, where Bivol and Artur Beterbiev still reside. Ramirez will never be a special fighter but he has a decent chance of winning a major belt in a second division 32 pounds heavier than the limit at super middleweight, at which he won his first title. That’s special.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Leigh Wood

The 126-pound titleholder probably won’t be remembered as one of the best fighters England has produced. He’s one of the most exciting, though. The same man who knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring in the final round to win a fight he was losing last year delivered another unlikely victory on Saturday in Sheffield, where he was behind on the cards and was nearly stopped himself only to brutally knock out former champion Josh Warrington (31-3-1, 8 KOs) in the seventh round and retain his title. Wood (28-3, 17 KOs) was losing all three cards at the time. To say the 35-year-old from Nottingham has the flair for the dramatic is an understatement. I don’t know whether he has the ability to unify at featherweight or win a title at 130 pounds. I do know that his solid ability, toughness and never-ever-say-die mentality would give him a chance to beat anyone. Win or lose, you can bet he’s going to entertain the fans. It’s no wonder he’s so popular in his home town.

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Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington: Date, time, how to watch, background

Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Leigh Wood is scheduled to defend his 126-pound title against fellow two-time beltholder Josh Warrington on Saturday in Sheffield, England.

LEIGH WOOD (27-3, 16 KOs) VS.
JOSH WARRINGTON (31-2-1, 8 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Wood’s WBA title
  • Odds: Wood 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Terri Harper vs. Cecilia Braekhus, junior middleweights (for Harper’s WBA and vacant WBO titles); Kieron Conway vs. Linus Udofia, middleweights; Hopey Price vs. Connor Coghill, featherweights
  • Prediction: Wood UD
  • Background: Wood will be fighting to stay on top, Warrington to get back there in this compelling All-Briton matchup. Wood, a 35-year-old from Nottingham, is a two-time 126-pound titleholder. He bounced back from a devasting seventh-round knockout against Mauricio Lara in February to easily outpoint the Mexican and regain the belt he lost in the first fight. The first meeting with Lara followed one of the most-thrilling battles in years, in which Wood knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring in the final round to win by knockout a fight he had been losing. Warrington, a 32-year-old from Leeds, also is a two-time featherweight champ. He battled back from a knockout loss and draw with Lara to take Kiko Martinez’s IBF belt by knockout in March of last year but lost it to Luis Alberto Lopez by majority decision in his most recent fight, in December. He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights.

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Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington: Date, time, how to watch, background

Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Leigh Wood is scheduled to defend his 126-pound title against fellow two-time beltholder Josh Warrington on Saturday in Sheffield, England.

LEIGH WOOD (27-3, 16 KOs) VS.
JOSH WARRINGTON (31-2-1, 8 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Wood’s WBA title
  • Odds: Wood 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Terri Harper vs. Cecilia Braekhus, junior middleweights (for Harper’s WBA and vacant WBO titles); Kieron Conway vs. Linus Udofia, middleweights; Hopey Price vs. Connor Coghill, featherweights
  • Prediction: Wood UD
  • Background: Wood will be fighting to stay on top, Warrington to get back there in this compelling All-Briton matchup. Wood, a 35-year-old from Nottingham, is a two-time 126-pound titleholder. He bounced back from a devasting seventh-round knockout against Mauricio Lara in February to easily outpoint the Mexican and regain the belt he lost in the first fight. The first meeting with Lara followed one of the most-thrilling battles in years, in which Wood knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring in the final round to win by knockout a fight he had been losing. Warrington, a 32-year-old from Leeds, also is a two-time featherweight champ. He battled back from a knockout loss and draw with Lara to take Kiko Martinez’s IBF belt by knockout in March of last year but lost it to Luis Alberto Lopez by majority decision in his most recent fight, in December. He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights.

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Fight Week: Gilberto Ramirez, Joe Smith Jr. fighting to stay in title hunt

Fight Week: Gilberto Ramirez and Joe Smith Jr. will be fighting to stay in 175-pound title contention when they meet Saturday in Las Vegas.

FIGHT WEEK

Gilberto Ramirez and Joe Smith Jr. are scheduled to meet in a 200-pound bout in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, in England, Leigh Wood will defend his 126-pound title against Josh Warrington.

LEIGH WOOD (27-3, 16 KOs) VS.
JOSH WARRINGTON (31-2-1, 8 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Wood’s WBA title
  • Odds: Wood 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Terri Harper vs. Cecilia Braekhus, junior middleweights (for Harper’s WBA and vacant WBO titles); Kieron Conway vs. Linus Udofia, middleweights; Hopey Price vs. Connor Coghill, featherweights
  • Prediction: Wood UD
  • Background: Wood will be fighting to stay on top, Warrington to get back there in this compelling All-Briton matchup. Wood, a 35-year-old from Nottingham, is a two-time 126-pound titleholder. He bounced back from a devasting seventh-round knockout against Mauricio Lara in February to easily outpoint the Mexican and regain the belt he lost in the first fight. The first meeting with Lara followed one of the most-thrilling battles in years, in which Wood knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring in the final round to win by knockout a fight he had been losing. Warrington, a 32-year-old from Leeds, also is a two-time featherweight champ. He battled back from a knockout loss and draw with Lara to take Kiko Martinez’s belt by knockout in March of last year but lost it to Luis Alberto Lopez by majority decision in his most recent fight, in December. He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights.

 

GILBERTO RAMIREZ (44-1, 30 KOs)
VS. JOE SMITH JR. (28-4, 22 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: John Ramirez vs. Ronal Batista, junior bantamweights; Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Alantez Fox, super middleweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez and Smith will both be trying to bounce back from damaging losses. Ramirez, a former 168-pound titleholder, won five consecutive fights after moving up to 175 but met his match in gifted champion Dmitry Bivol, who handed the 32-year-old Mexican his first professional defeat by a one-sided unanimous decision last November. Smith, a limited technician with immense power, won a light heavyweight title by outpointing Jesse Hart in 2020 and successfully defended three times. Then he ran into a monster in Artur Beterbiev, who needed less than two full rounds to knock out Smith in a title-unification bout on June 18. The winner on Saturday will take a significant step toward a shot at another belt. The loser, particularly if he loses badly, could be in for an uphill battle to remain a major player in the division.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Zachary Ochoa, junior welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

SATURDAY

  • Evelin Nazarena Bermudez vs. Kim Clavel, junior flyweights (for Bermudez’s IBF and WBO titles), Laval, Quebec (No TV in U.S.)
  • Daniel Valladares vs. Ginjiro Shigeoka, strawweights (for Valladares’ IBF title), Tokyo (No TV in U.S.)

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Fight Week: Gilberto Ramirez, Joe Smith Jr. fighting to stay in title hunt

Fight Week: Gilberto Ramirez and Joe Smith Jr. will be fighting to stay in 175-pound title contention when they meet Saturday in Las Vegas.

FIGHT WEEK

Gilberto Ramirez and Joe Smith Jr. are scheduled to meet in a 200-pound bout in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, in England, Leigh Wood will defend his 126-pound title against Josh Warrington.

LEIGH WOOD (27-3, 16 KOs) VS.
JOSH WARRINGTON (31-2-1, 8 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweight (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Wood’s WBA title
  • Odds: Wood 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: Terri Harper vs. Cecilia Braekhus, junior middleweights (for Harper’s WBA and vacant WBO titles); Kieron Conway vs. Linus Udofia, middleweights; Hopey Price vs. Connor Coghill, featherweights
  • Prediction: Wood UD
  • Background: Wood will be fighting to stay on top, Warrington to get back there in this compelling All-Briton matchup. Wood, a 35-year-old from Nottingham, is a two-time 126-pound titleholder. He bounced back from a devasting seventh-round knockout against Mauricio Lara in February to easily outpoint the Mexican and regain the belt he lost in the first fight. The first meeting with Lara followed one of the most-thrilling battles in years, in which Wood knocked Michael Conlan out of the ring in the final round to win by knockout a fight he had been losing. Warrington, a 32-year-old from Leeds, also is a two-time featherweight champ. He battled back from a knockout loss and draw with Lara to take Kiko Martinez’s belt by knockout in March of last year but lost it to Luis Alberto Lopez by majority decision in his most recent fight, in December. He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights.

 

GILBERTO RAMIREZ (44-1, 30 KOs)
VS. JOE SMITH JR. (28-4, 22 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Cruiserweight (200 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Odds: NA
  • Pound-for-pound: None
  • Also on the card: John Ramirez vs. Ronal Batista, junior bantamweights; Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Alantez Fox, super middleweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez and Smith will both be trying to bounce back from damaging losses. Ramirez, a former 168-pound titleholder, won five consecutive fights after moving up to 175 but met his match in gifted champion Dmitry Bivol, who handed the 32-year-old Mexican his first professional defeat by a one-sided unanimous decision last November. Smith, a limited technician with immense power, won a light heavyweight title by outpointing Jesse Hart in 2020 and successfully defended three times. Then he ran into a monster in Artur Beterbiev, who needed less than two full rounds to knock out Smith in a title-unification bout on June 18. The winner on Saturday will take a significant step toward a shot at another belt. The loser, particularly if he loses badly, could be in for an uphill battle to remain a major player in the division.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY

  • Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Zachary Ochoa, junior welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)

SATURDAY

  • Evelin Nazarena Bermudez vs. Kim Clavel, junior flyweights (for Bermudez’s IBF and WBO titles), Laval, Quebec (No TV in U.S.)
  • Daniel Valladares vs. Ginjiro Shigeoka, strawweights (for Valladares’ IBF title), Tokyo (No TV in U.S.)

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