Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring

Jamel William Herring is an American professional boxer born in October 30, 1985 who has held the WBO junior lightweight title since 2019.

He is ranked as the world’s fourth best active junior lightweight by The Ring and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and ninth by BoxRec.

While a sophomore at Longwood High School, Jamel began boxing in 2001 when his soon to become trainer Austin Hendrickson invited him to the boxing gym for workouts.

Herring enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in October 2003 at Parris Island, South Carolina.

He has served two tours of duty in Iraq and was based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he earned the rank of Sergeant.

After returning from the London games, Herring made the tough decision to finish out his service with the United States Marine Corps and become a professional boxer.

He relocated from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to Cincinnati, Ohio to work with Mike Stafford.

Boxing Profile – James “Semper Fi” Herring – Championship fights.

WBO Junior Lightweight Champion:

• Herring vs. Masayuki Ito

In May 2019, he became a world champion by defeating Masayuki Ito to win the WBO junior lightweight title.

Herring outboxed Ito in front of the sold-out crowd, winning almost every round of the fight.

Scorecards were 118-110, 118-110, and 116-112 in favor of Herring.

• Herring vs. Lamont Roach Jr.

In his first title defense, Herring faced Lamont Roach Jr.

Herring boxed well through most of the fight, but Roach Jr was far from an easy opponent.

Herring was almost dropped by Roach Jr in the ninth round but managed to recover just before the bell.

In the end, he had done enough to earn the unanimous decision win, 117-111 twice and 115-113 on the scorecards.

Most Recent Fights:

• Herring vs. Jonathan Oquendo

His second title defense came against Jonathan Oquendo, on 5 September 2020, after two previously canceled dates, both because Herring tested positive for COVID-19. 

Herring was in control during the fight and was landing the more effective shots. 

Herring managed to drop Oquendo in the third round. 

The aggressive Oquendo was going headfirst on multiple occasions during the fight, which ultimately resulted in a cut above Herring’s eye.

Herring was not able to continue after the eighth round and his corner decided he was unable to continue, winning the fight via Oquendo’s DQ.

• Herring vs. Carl Frampton

After Herring defeated Oquendo in September, the WBO ordered Herring to face his mandatory challenger Shakur Stevenson before January 2021, putting the long-proposed fight with Frampton in jeopardy.

The following month, the WBO gave Herring an exception to face Frampton in a voluntary defense, and the date set was 27 February. 

However, after Frampton suffered a hand injury the date changed to 4 April, with the location changed to Dubai.

On the night, Frampton caused a cut to open above Herring’s right eye in the fourth round. 

In the fifth, Frampton was knocked to the canvas by a straight left hand. Frampton was knocked down for a second time in the sixth round, this time from a left uppercut. 

Frampton made it back to his feet on unsteady legs before the referee’s count of ten, only to be met with a flurry of punches from Herring, prompting Frampton‘s trainer to throw in the towel to hand him a sixth-round technical knockout loss.