By Ian S Palmer
Former WBO Jr. Lightweight Champion Jamel Herring of Coram, New York is moving up to lightweight this Saturday, May 21st to take on unbeaten Jamaine Ortiz of Worcester, Massachusetts in a 10-round bout. The fight from Las Vegas can be seen live in America on ESPN and ESPN+ while fans in Canada can catch it on TSN 5. Herring was stopped in the 10th round by Shakur Stevenson last October to lose his title while Ortiz last fought in February when he beat Nahir Albright by a 10-round unanimous decision.
The 36-year-old Herring enters the ring with a record of 23-3 with 11 Kos. The southpaw and former 2012 American Olympian and U.S. Marine won his junior lightweight title from Masayuki Ito via unanimous decision in May, 2019 and then defended it against Lamont Roach by unanimous decision six months later before beating Jonathan Oquendo via an eighth-round disqualification.
He then stopped former world champion Carl Frampton in six rounds in April, 2021. However, he couldn’t handle Shakur Stevenson’s skills and was eventually stopped last October after putting up a good fight. Herring stands 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and has fought 162 rounds since making his pro debut in 2012 at the age of 27.
He served two tours of duty in Iraq with the Marines and has average power with a current knockout ratio of 42.3 per cent. He boxed for the Americans at the 2012 Olympics in London, England, but was beaten in the first round of bouts. Herring’s first pro loss came at the hands of Denis Shafikov by 10th-round TKO in July, 2016. He then lost two bouts later to Ladarius Miller via an eight-round unanimous decision in August, 2017.
Although he’s been stopped twice, he owns a sturdy chin. Herring won the vacant USBA Super Featherweight Crown in September, 2018 with a 10-round unanimous decision over John Vincent Moralde. His biggest wins have been over Frampton, Oquendo, Ito, Roach, Hector Velazquez, Luis Eduardo Florez and Art Hovhannisyan.
The 26-year-old Ortiz enters the contest a perfect mark of 15-0-1 with 8 Ko’s and has boxed 77 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015. He enjoyed a pretty good amateur career but was beaten by the likes of Jaron Ennis, Teofimo Lopez and Gary Antuanne Russell before turning pro. Ortiz stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 69-inch reach which means he gives up two inches in height and three inches in reach to Herring.
As far as power goes, Ortiz carries around a current knockout ratio of 50 per cent. The lone draw on his record was a n eight-round majority affair with Joseph Adorno two fights ago in April, 2021. He’s definitely taking a step up in class this weekend as Ortiz’s biggest victories as a pro have been against the likes of Derrick Murray, Vitor Jones and Romain Couture.
Since turning pro he’s also captured the vacant WBC Youth World Lightweight Title, the vacant WBC Youth Inter-Continental Super Lightweight Belt and the vacant WBC (USNBC) Silver Lightweight Title. Ortiz also took the vacant NABF Lightweight Championship with his win over Nahir Albright in February.
Prediction…
Herring’s an underestimated boxer in general but is now 36 years old, moving up in weight and working with a new trainer in Manny Robles. Ortiz is a fine young boxer but is moving up in class for a stiff test this weekend. Herring is a solid but unspectacular pro with good skills and a decent chin but is likely in the twilight of his career now. Still, I think his experience should be enough to see him get past the younger Ortiz at lightweight.
