Herring out with 2nd positive COVID test
Looks like Jamel Herring will have to fight at another time.
First reported by Mike Coppinger of The Athletic and later made later made official, the title defense of the WBO junior lightweight world champion Herring and Jonathan Oquendo will not proceed as scheduled for Tuesday night. This after Herring tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this morning.
The highly anticipated Mikaela Mayer-Helen Joseph junior lightweight bout will now be Tuesday’s main event (ESPN & ESPN Deportes, 9 p.m. ET).
BREAKING NEWS ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/A9oDQ3Bv69
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 13, 2020
Herring said in a statement released by Top Rank, “I’m extremely disappointed that I’m not going to be able to fight tomorrow night. As I’ve shared previously, I tested positive for COVID-19 on June 22 after exhibiting symptoms. I quarantined and recovered as directed by my doctor. I then retested on July 3 and my test was negative, so this result is a complete surprise.
I was fully prepared to make my second title defense tomorrow night. I am hoping that my team and Top Rank can reschedule this fight soon. Thank you for all the support everyone has shown. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and perform.”
That isn’t the only fight scrapped due to a positive COVID Test. The Luis Melendez-Eddie Vazquez undercard bout has been canceled due to Melendez testing positive for COVID-19 as well.
Herring is 21 – 2 and was in line to fight Ireland’s Carl Frampton in Belfast in June before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down all of sports back in March. He was last in the ring winning in November, when he scored a 12-round decision over Lamont Roach for his first title defense.
The Former U.S. Marine had won the WBO title on Memorial Day of 2019 capturing the belt by 12 decision over Japan’s Masayuki Ito. Hopefully Herring can shake this second positive test and get back into the ring as heading up to this fight that was cancelled was all, but ready to go posting as much confirmation of his camp on his Twitter.
Thank you @ContendersUSA for taking care of me this camp! It’s almost go time!#SemperFi ? pic.twitter.com/Mi45fCa6hQ
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) July 13, 2020
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
