Jamel Herring-Jonathan Oquendo title fight is off: report

The main event between Jamel Herring and Jonathan Oquendo scheduled for tomorrow (July 14) on ESPN is off for undisclosed reasons.

The main event between Jamel Herring and Jonathan Oquendo scheduled for tomorrow (July 14) on ESPN is off.

The Athletic is reporting that Herring, set to defend junior lightweight title, was forced to withdraw for an undisclosed reason.

Top Rank, the promoter, could elevate the 10-round women’s junior lightweight bout between 2016 U.S. Olympian Mikaela Mayer and Helen Joseph to the featured fight inside the MGM Grand bubble in Las Vegas.

The Herring-Oquendo fight was originally scheduled for July 2 but it was postponed after Herring tested positive for COVID-19. Herring subsequently recovered and tested negative virus, which allowed the fight to be rescheduled.

“I am back, healthy and 100 percent ready to defend my world title,” he told ESPN only a few days ago.

Some members of Herring’s team had suggested that he wait to come back or fight 10 rounds, instead of 12. However, he insisted on going through with the title defense … until today, that is.

Mayer (12-0, 5KOs) also tested positive and was pulled from Top Rank’s June 9 card as a result. However, it was later determined that it was a false positive.

Thus, her fight was rescheduled for tomorrow and listed as the co-feature. Joseph (17-4-2, 10 KOs) is a respected fighter from Nigeria.

Other bouts on the card: Clay Collard vs. Lorawnt T Nelson, six rounds, middleweights; Luis Melendez vs. Edward Vazquez, eight round, featherweights; Ruben Cervera vs. Clay Burns, six rounds, lightweights; and William Villa vs. Eduardo Sanchez, four rounds, junior lightweights.

Jamel Herring to defend title weeks after positive COVID-19 test

Jamel Herring will defend his junior lightweight title against Jonathan Oquendo only three weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.

All fighters are brave. Jamel Herring might be taking it step further.

Herring, the junior lightweight titleholder and former U.S. Marine, tested positive for COVID-19 on June 21, which resulted in the postponement of his scheduled July 2 title defense against Jonathan Oquendo (31-6, 19 KOs) of Puerto Rico inside the MGM Bubble in Las Vegas.

The fight will take place only three weeks later, on Tuesday (July 14), even though members of his team suggested he wait or fight in a 10-round non-title bout.

“I am back, healthy and 100 percent ready to defend my world title,” he told ESPN, which will television the fight. “Oquendo is a tough opponent who realizes this is his last chance to win a world title.

“He’s coming for what I have, and I’m not going to cut any corners. I will return home to celebrate with my family and my belt.”

Herring said he felt achy but wasn’t concerned until he developed a fever on June 19. He was tested the following day and received the results the day after that, at which point he went into quarantine.

He was interviewed by ESPN on June 23.

“I’m OK, I feel like my normal self again,” Herring said at that time. “I feel good. After I got past the whole fever, I felt good. I didn’t even know I had it ’til I came down with the fever.”

He went on: “The doctor said since I came in after I already had the fever, that I was already at the last stages of the virus. I literally broke the fever Saturday night; it only last two days for me, Friday night and Saturday night. By the time I got the test results … Sunday morning, I was already done with the fever stages.”

Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) said that a follow-up test came back negative and that he’s now symptom free. And his strength and conditioning coach said he has seen no fall off in Herring’s training since he returned to the gym.

Still, there is no telling how having had the virus will affect him – if at all.

“We have no idea how athletes recover from COVID,” Paulina Endara, Herring’s nutritionist, told ESPN. “This is still so new. But we’ve done everything we can to make sure Jamel is healthy and ready to fight.”

Herring isn’t the only fighter on the card who has had to deal with COVID-19.

Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5KOs) also tested positive and was pulled from Top Rank’s June 9 card as a result. However, it was later determined that it was a false positive.

The 2016 U.S. Olympian from Los Angeles will face Helen Joseph (17-4-2, 10 KOs) of Nigeria in a 10-round junior lightweight co-feature.

Other bouts on the card: Clay Collard vs. Lorawnt T Nelson, six rounds, middleweights; Luis Melendez vs. Edward Vazquez, eight round, featherweights; Ruben Cervera vs. Clay Burns, six rounds, lightweights; and William Villa vs. Eduardo Sanchez, four rounds, junior lightweights.

Top Rank trying to reschedule Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre bout on July 14

Top Rank is trying to reschedule the canceled Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre fight for July 14.

The featured fights pulled from Top Rank cards because of the coronavirus could take place on July 14.

The main event between Jose Pedraza and Mikkel LesPierre scheduled for tonight (Thursday) in a ball room at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was canceled after LesPierre’s manager – with whom the fighter had come in contact within a controlled bubble — tested positive for COVID-19 after Wednesday’s weigh-in.

Top Rank is targeting July 14 as the new date for that fight, BoxingScene.com is reporting. Mikaela Mayer, whose June 9 fight with Helen Joseph was canceled after Mayer tested positive, would face Joseph on the new card.

“We’re looking to reschedule the fight for July 14th,” Carl Moretti, Top Rank’s vice president of operations, told BoxingScene.com. “If both camps agree to that date, that’s when we’ll do the fight.”

The positive test of Josie Tavares, LesPierre’s manager, was returned Thursday morning. That’s when the fighter learned he was off the card.

“I am devastated,” LesPierre said in a statement released by Top Rank. “This was my opportunity to showcase my talent to the world, but everything happens for a reason. This is just another roadblock in my story. I apologize to Jose and his team for any inconvenience this caused. He is a great boxer, and I hope we can reschedule the fight as soon as possible.”

Tavares was apologetic.

“I apologize for the inconvenience this caused,” he said. “I am not exhibiting any symptoms. I am looking forward to hopefully rescheduling this fight as soon as possible. I am devastated for Mikkel.”

The co-feature between Gabriel Flores Jr. (17-0, 6 KOs) and Josec Ruiz (21-2-3, 14 KOs) will be  elevated to the main event tonight. The card will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Shakur Stevenson stops Felix Caraballo in return of boxing

Shakur Stevenson stopped Felix Caraballo with a single left hook to the body in Round 6 Tuesday in Las Vegas.

It looked different, as it took place in a studio without spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. It sounded different. No cheering, no booing, only the sound of punches landing and the voices of the referee, cornermen and broadcasters, who called the card off site.

Still, once the opening bell rang, it looked very familiar. Indeed, boxing was once again on center stage Tuesday in a tightly controlled MGM Grand ballroom in Las Vegas.

And the star of the first post-lockdown show shined as brightly as ever, as featherweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson gave a dazzling demonstration of the sweet science before putting Felix Caraballo away with a single left hook to the body in Round 6.

“It was a different atmosphere,” Stevenson said after the fight. “The training was different. I couldn’t be around nobody. Even when I was fighting … there was no crowd. I was catching him with mean shots and you don’t hear oohs or aahs. So it was a little different.”

The result was the same for the 2016 Olympic silver medalist, who has established himself as a fast-rising star in only 14 professional fights.

Stevenson won a vacant 126-pound title when he easily outpointed Joet Gonzalez this past October. He was supposed to defend his belt against Miguel Marriaga on March 14 but those plans gave way to the pandemic only two days before the fight.

Thus, Stevenson was first in line when it came time to resume the schedule. And he certainly made the most of it in a non-title fight at 130 pounds.

Shakur Stevenson landed at will against Felix Caraballo on Tuesday. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Caraballo (13-2-2, 9 KOs) was gritty, if little else. He came out aggressively at the opening bell to demonstrate that he meant business but Stevenson quickly made it look as if Caraballo was in the wrong business.

Stevenson (14-0, 8 KOs) landed uber-quick, accurate combinations with unusual consistency as Caraballo tried to work his way inside almost the entire fight. The underdog took tremendous punishment to the head even though he kept his guard up, which is a testament to Stevenson’s accuracy.

Caraballo went down from a right to the body in the opening round but he seemed to be off balance. In the second, he was stunned – perhaps even hurt – a few times as the punches already were taking a toll.

In the third, ESPN analyst Tim Bradley, working from home, said, “This is target practice.” And that’s what it was. Caraballo, grossly overmatched, seemed helpless.

And not even the fact Stevenson hurt his left hand at some point – he grimaced after connecting with it in Round 5 – could hold him back.

About midway through the final round, Stevenson landed a right to Caraballo’s body. The Puerto Rican responded by missing with a left hook and then, BAM! A left to the solar plexus knocked Caraballo to his forearms and knees in great pain. One could actually hear him moaning for lack of other sounds.

And he couldn’t go on. The official time of the stoppage was 1:31.

Caraballo couldn’t continue after taking a vicious body shot. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

“I came here to get him out of there,” Stevenson said. “… I hit him with everything I could. I wobbled him a couple of times. He took a lot of punishment. I started realizing that the head shots weren’t going to get him out of there so I started going to the body more.

“I was looking this way,” he added, leaning in one direction and then other, “I was looking this way, and he opened up wide … and I landed the shot.”

Stevenson doesn’t know what his immediate future holds. He remains a 126-pound titleholder but he also was testing the waters at 130 on Tuesday. He wanted to see how he felt at that weight.

That said, he is hungry to face opponents far better than Caraballo at any weight as he strives to become the best fighter in the world. The comparisons with Floyd Mayweather, the master of hitting and not getting hit, never end.

“We’re two different fighters,” he said. “I feel we have two different styles. I have my own style. I stole a couple of things from his game. I’ve stolen stuff from Pernell Whitaker, Terence Crawford, Andre Ward. I’ve stolen stuff from a lot of guys, not just Floyd.

“I appreciate the comparisons because it’s a huge compliment but I’m still my own fighter. I’m the first Shakur Stevenson.”

Jared Anderson (right) had no trouble taking out Johnny Langston. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

In preliminaries, Jared Anderson, a 20-year-old heavyweight prospect from Toledo, Ohio, stopped former cruiserweight Johnny Langston at 1:55 of Round 3 of a scheduled six-round bout.

Anderson (4-0, 4 KOs) was the much bigger, stronger man and took advantage of that, pounding his game opponent to both the head and body from the opening bell. Anderson fought very aggressively – sometimes recklessly, which allowed Langston to land some shots – but he wore down Langston (8-4, 3 KOs) quickly.

Refree Jay Nady stopped the fight as Langston was taking a beating not firing back.

“He took some good shots,” said Anderson, who had never been past the first round. “He was a tough opponent. I did what I wanted to. I did some stuff I didn’t want to do. I got caught with a good shot. It didn’t hurt me, but I definitely got caught with it. I know a different opponent could hurt me with a shot like that. We’ll go back to the drawing board and see what I did wrong.”

“This wasn’t what I expected, but it was a great experience. I’m happy I got the opportunity to showcase my talents on ESPN at such a young age.”

Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Italian Olympian Guido Vianello needed only 2:16 to stop Don Haynesworth in a scheduled six-round heavyweight bout, ending matters with a single overhand right.

Haynesworth (16-3-1, 14 KOs) was in the process of landing a jab to the body when Vianello (7-0, 7 KOs)  landed a downward right that put the underdog on his back. Referee Jay Nady stopped the fight after a standing Haynesworth said, “I don’t know what happened.”

Vianello, who fought in the 2016 Olympics, moved from Rome to Las Vegas to focus on his development. The 6-foot-6, 239¼-pounder trains with Kevin Barry, the fighter who beat Evander Holyfield by disqualification in the 1984 Olympics and longtime pro trainer.

Vianello, 26, has sparred with Tyson Fury, which has helped in his maturation.

“Tyson is the best,” he said. “His moving, his defense, his fast jab. I love his jab. I remember every day his technique. I hope to see him [again] soon.”

And Quatavious Cash defeated Calvin Metcalf by a unanimous decision in a scheduled six-round middleweight bout that was stopped after five because of a deep cut above Metcalf’s left eye.

The gash was caused by an accidental clash of heads in the second round, which sent the fight to the cards after it was stopped. The scores were 60-54, 60-55 and 59-55, all for Cash (12-2, 7 KOs).

Metcalf (10-4-1, 3 KOs) pushed the action most of the way even though blood dripped down his face but Cash threw more punches and landed the harder, more-accurate shots to sway the judges.

Cash has won back-to-back fights after losing two in a row.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Carabello: TV schedule, start time for boxing’s return

Here’s everything you need to know about the Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo card Tuesday in Las Vegas on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Boxing returns to North America for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the sweet science, as Top Rank will host a five-fight card on Tuesday at the MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas.

In the main event, featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) will take on Puerto Rican contender Felix Caraballo (13-1-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round non-title junior lightweight bout.

Top Rank has scheduled multiple fight cards each week of June on the ESPN family of networks.

Tuesday’s card will be headlined by the 22-year-old Stevenson. The fast-rising star is an Olympic silver medalist with a high ceiling as one of the top young fighters in the sport. He was originally slated to defend his title on March 14 against Miguel Marriaga. That fight was canceled because of the pandemic.

Caraballo has won five fights in a row but will be fighting for the first time away from Puerto Rico.

Stevenson is hoping to make quick work of Carabello, setting up a bout against a bigger-name opponent. He said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll remain at 126 pounds or move up to 130.

“I think that the champions at 130 are all decent fighters,” Stevenson told reporters on a conference call. “I’ve already pictured myself in the ring with all of them … so I’ve already been thinking about that. I’ve been thinking about being in the ring with Oscar Valdez, with [Gary] Russell, [Leo] Santa Cruz, JoJo [Diaz], even Jamel [Herring], if I have to.”

And that doesn’t even include Josh Warrington, a fellow featherweight champion.

Mikaela Mayer was originally set to compete in the co-main event against Helen Joseph but was removed from the card after testing positive for COVID-19.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Stevenson-Caraballo card.

Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Caraballo fight date and time

  • Date: Tuesday, June 9
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET

The five-fight card kicks off at 7 p.m. ET. Stevenson and Caraballo are expected to take their ring walks about 9:30 p.m., although the exact time depends on the length of the earlier fights.

How to watch Stevenson vs. Caraballo: TV channel, live stream

In the United States, the Stevenson vs. Caraballo card will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes with a start time of 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.

Where is the Stevenson vs. Caraballo fight?

Stevenson vs. Caraballo will take place at the MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas. There will not be fans in attendance because of the coronavirus.

Stevenson vs. Caraballo betting odds

According to FanDuel, Stevenson is a massive favorite at -5000, meaning you’d have to bet $5,000 to win $100. Caraballo is a +1900 underdog, meaning if you bet $100, you would net $1900.

Shakur Stevenson record and bio

  • Name: Shakur Stevenson
  • Nationality: American
  • Born: June 28, 1997
  • Height: 5 feet, 8 inches (172.7 cm)
  • Weight: 126 pounds (57.2 kg)
  • Reach: 68 inches (172.7 cm)
  • Total fights: 13
  • Record: 13-0 (7 KOs)

Felix Caraballo record and bio

  • Name: Felix Caraballo
  • Nationality: Puerto Rican
  • Born: April 4, 1994
  • Height: 5-8 (172.7 cm)
  • Weight: 126 pounds (57.2 kg)
  • Reach: N/A
  • Total fights: 16
  • Record: 13-1-2 (9 KOs)

Stevenson vs. Caraballo fight card

  • Shakur Stevenson vs. Felix Carabello, junior lightweight (10 rounds)
  • Jared Anderson vs. Johnnie Langston, heavyweight (6 rounds)
  • Guido Vianello vs. Don Haynesworth, heavyweight (6 rounds)
  • Robeisy Ramirez vs. Yeuri Andujar, featherweight (6 rounds)
  • Quatavious Cash vs. Calvin Metcalf, middleweight (4-6 rounds)​

 

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Felix Caraballo enters fight with Shakur Stevenson as mystery man

Shakur Stevenson: Thinking big, champing at the bit

Mikaela Mayer pulls out of fight after testing positive for COVID-19

Mikaela Mayer, scheduled to face Helen Joseph on Tuesday, announced on Instagram that she pulled out after testing positive for COVID-19.

Mikaela Mayer won’t be part of the first post-lock down card Tuesday in Las Vegas.

Mayer, scheduled to face Helen Joseph, announced on Instagram that she pulled out after testing positive for COVID-19.

She had been scheduled to return to the ring in March but then the coronavirus pandemic took hold and all fights were canceled.

“I am heartbroken to report that I will no longer be fighting on Tuesday’s Top Rank card due to a positive result in my COVID-19 test yesterday,” Mayer wrote. “It came as a complete surprise. I am currently asymptomatic and am quarantining at an off-site location per recommended guidelines.

“The rest of my team tested negative and they are all in good health. I was really looking forward to bringing back boxing for all of you and I’m disappointed for myself, my team, my supporters and for my opponent, Helen Joseph, who worked just as hard to be here this week and put on a show for everyone.

View this post on Instagram

I am heartbroken to report that I will no longer be fighting on Tuesday’s Top Rank card due to a positive result in my COVID-19 test yesterday. It came as a complete surprise. I am currently asymptomatic and am quarantining at an off-site location per recommended guidelines. The rest of my team tested negative and they are all in good health. I was really looking forward to bringing back boxing for all of you and I’m disappointed for myself, my team, my supporters and for my opponent, Helen Joseph, who worked just as hard to be here this week and put on a show for everyone. After two hard back-to-back camps, not being able to step in to the ring both times, you can imagine how disappointed I am. However, these protocols were put into place for a reason and it's more important to care about the health and well being of my team and the people at this event. So I am complying with the rules set forth by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Top Rank to keep everyone safe. I will just have to take a quick break but I will be in the ring soon. I appreciate all the love and support. Please tune in to ESPN on Tuesday night and support the card and all of the fighters. Boxing is back and I'll be back.🙏🏼 #boxing

A post shared by MIKAELA MAYER (@mikaelamayer) on

“After two hard back-to-back camps, not being able to step in to the ring both times, you can imagine how disappointed I am. However, these protocols were put into place for a reason and it’s more important to care about the health and well being of my team and the people at this event.

“So I am complying with the rules set forth by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Top Rank to keep everyone safe.”

Featherweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson will face Felix Caraballo in a junior lightweight fight on Tuesday at the MGM Grand. The card will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Bob Arum: ‘Boxing is going to come back … bigger, more important than ever’

Promoter Bob Arum said boxing, which returns Tuesday, will ‘come back … bigger and more important than ever.’

Boxing is just a few days from its return. And promoter Bob Arum is excited.

Top Rank, his company, will be the first to stage fights — without live audiences — after the lock down period that resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. Featherweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson headlines the first card on Tuesday (June 9) in Las Vegas.

The show will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

“Well, it looks like we’re back,” Arum said on a conference call. “This is a momentous occasion. Boxing is back after a three-month lapse. I’m really proud that Top Rank is the first promoter out of the box.

“We have a great show on the 9th of June. Then we continue [with] virtually two and three boxing events a week.”

Arum believes the sport will boom quickly.

“Boxing is going to come back, believe me, bigger and more important than ever,” he said. “In this two-month period, June and July, it looks like there won’t be any NBA or Major League Baseball. The spotlight will be on the sport of boxing.

“And with the bouts we’ve lined up, I believe the public will once again be enthused about the competitive level of the sport.”

Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) will face Felix Caraballo (13-1-2, 9 KOs) in a non-title junior lightweight bout, as the 126-pound champ is testing the waters at 130. Also on that card, Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) will face Helen Joseph (17-4-2, 10 KOs).

Top Rank also has shows scheduled for June 11, June 16, June 18, June 20 and June 23.

Here is the complete June lineup of featured fights:

June 9 – Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) vs Felix Caraballo (13-1-2, 9 KOs); Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) vs Helen Joseph (17-4-2, 10 KOs).

June 11 – Jessie Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KOs) vs Yenifel Vicente (36-4-2, 28 KOs); Adam Lopez (13-2, 6 KOs) vs Luis Coria (12-2, 7 KOs).

June 16 – Joshua Greer Jr. (22-1-1, 12 KOs) vs Mike Plania (23-1, 12 KOs); Giovanni Santillan (25-0, 15 KOs) vs Antonio Demarco (33-8-1, 24 KOs).

June 18 – Jose Pedraza (26-3, 13 KOs) vs Mikkel LesPierre (22-1-1, 10 KOs); Gabe Flores Jr. (17-0, 6 KOs) vs Josec Ruiz (21-2-3, 14 KOs).

June 20 – Emanuel Navarete (31-1, 27 KOs) vs Uriel Lopez (13-13-1, 6 KOs).

June 23 – Andrew Moloney (21-0, 14 KOs) vs Joshua Franco (16-1-2, 8 KOs); Christopher Diaz (25-2, 16 KOs) and Jason Sanchez (15-1, 8 KOs).

READ MORE

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Top Rank unveils its complete schedule for restart of boxing in June

Shakur Stevenson, Mick Conlan to headline March featherweight cards

Shakur Stevenson and Mick Conlan are scheduled to headline featherweight cards in March.

Featherweights will bring their own version of March Madness to New York.

First, Shakur Stevenson will make the first defense of his 126-pound title against veteran Colombian challenger Miguel Marriaga on March 14 at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater on ESPN.

Three days later, Irish featherweight Mick Conlan will be at Hulu Theater for his annual celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day against Belmar Preciado, also of Colombia.

The featherweight two-step, announced Tuesday by Top Rank, will begin with Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) in his first bout since scoring a unanimous decision over Joet Gonzalez on Oct. 26.

“We’ve been trying to make this fight with Miguel Marriaga for a long time now,” Stevenson said. “I wanted a strong opponent for my first title defense. He’s been in the ring with multiple world champions, and I am ready to prove that I am the best featherweight in the world. This is my fourth fight at Madison Square Garden, but my first as a world champion, and it will be my best performance yet.”

Marriaga (29-3, 25 KOs) has challenged for world titles three times, losing all three to Nicholas Walters, Oscar Valdez Jr. and Vasiliy Lomachenko. He has won his last four fights, all by stoppage.

“I always wanted this fight, and the time is right now that he’s a world champion,” Marriaga said. “He speaks often about how people are ducking him, but here I am. Colombia will have a new world champion March 14.”

Conlan (13-0, 7 KOs), who will make a fourth straight St Paddy’s Day appearance at Hulu, looms as a potential challenger for the Stevenson-Marriaga winner.

“I know how tough Preciado (20-2-1, 13 KOs) is, but this fight is a great test as I continue on my path towards becoming a world champion,’’ Conlan said.

On the March 14 card, former junior-featherweight champion Jessie Magdaleno (27-1, 18 KOs) will face unbeaten Sakaria Lukas (23-0, 16 KOs) of Namibia in a 10-round featherweight bout.

On the March 17 card, unbeaten Mikaela Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) will take on Melissa Hernandez (23-7-3, 7 KOs), a former featherweight champ, in a junior lightweight bout.