Weekend Recap: Jamel Herring Fails his Biggest Test
Weekend Recap: Jamel Herring Fails his Biggest Test
By Jonathan SnowdenIn life there are tests that can be both passed and failed. For most of us the consequences are negligible, little more than the sting of
By Jonathan Snowden
In life there are tests that can be both passed and failed.
For most of us the consequences are negligible, little more than the sting of pride when the editor’s red pen comes out and throttles a passion project. In the sport of boxing, failing a test can mean much more
Jamel Herring: Ex-US Olympian, had a big time test on Saturday night, televised live by ESPN.
Unfortunately, he failed.
When failure involves being repeatedly hit in the face for nearly 30 minutes, it can be a crushing blow to one’s ego. Herring’s opponent was a well-tested contender by the name of Denis Shafikov. Last week I outlined the roadblocks in his path to victory—Herring's size, skill and refusal to engage on the front foot. It was a style that would force the smaller man to eschew his normal counter game and become the hunter.
And, to Herring's dismay, Shafikov was up to the challenge.
Herring was dropped hard with a wide right hand in the second round, and punished continuously by Shafikov as the rounds zoomed by. Entering the 10th, Herring’s corner had begged for him to make a real fight of it, or see the plug get pulled. He didn't and they stayed true to their word, throwing in the towel and giving Shafikov the TKO win.
Herring, now 15-1,will be forced to practically start from scratch. We may one day see him return to the top at 135, but it might take years to recover from this kind of setback in the unforgiving sport of boxing. While boxing loathes a failed prospect, it loves a comeback. Shafikov, 37-2-1, could easily be in line for another title shot in the weight class. There’s a number of quality fights for him to and he’s likely to make any bout an entertaining clash, even if he doesn't win outright. That's a pretty decent calling card promoters can get behind.
-Patryk Szymanski went to 16-0 with a competitive decision win over Wilky Campfort on the televised undercard. Campfort came from total obscurity all the way to a Showtime TV fight against Jermall Charlo in 2015. That's where the Cinderella story ended— against Charlo he never looked less than utterly helpless. Back against a more appropriate level of competition, he was more successful, though ultimately outpunched.
-Oscar Negrete, 12-0, was being positioned by Golden Boy Promotions as ready for a title shot following a 10 round unanimous decision win over Jose Bustos on the company’s Fight Club Live show Friday night. That seems a step too far. Headbutts left him with cuts on the scalp and left eye. But in this day and age, who is to say “no”?
-A number of notable fighters made untelevised returns over the weekend: Kermit Cintron won an eight round unanimous decision on the dark portion of the Herring/Shafikov show, and Don King promoted a club show in Pittsburgh, PA where Guillermo Jones, Trevor Bryan, and Amir Iman all fought no-hopers and obtained easy paychecks. Finally, DeMarcus Corley managed to take the title of Jamaican Contender champion in Kingston. “Chop Chop” won three fights in the last 6 weeks on the island nation to win the crown.
In life there are tests that can be both passed and failed.
For most of us the consequences are negligible, little more than the sting of pride when the editor’s red pen comes out and throttles a passion project. In the sport of boxing, failing a test can mean much more
Jamel Herring: Ex-US Olympian, had a big time test on Saturday night, televised live by ESPN.
Unfortunately, he failed.
When failure involves being repeatedly hit in the face for nearly 30 minutes, it can be a crushing blow to one’s ego. Herring’s opponent was a well-tested contender by the name of Denis Shafikov. Last week I outlined the roadblocks in his path to victory—Herring's size, skill and refusal to engage on the front foot. It was a style that would force the smaller man to eschew his normal counter game and become the hunter.
And, to Herring's dismay, Shafikov was up to the challenge.
Herring was dropped hard with a wide right hand in the second round, and punished continuously by Shafikov as the rounds zoomed by. Entering the 10th, Herring’s corner had begged for him to make a real fight of it, or see the plug get pulled. He didn't and they stayed true to their word, throwing in the towel and giving Shafikov the TKO win.
Herring, now 15-1,will be forced to practically start from scratch. We may one day see him return to the top at 135, but it might take years to recover from this kind of setback in the unforgiving sport of boxing. While boxing loathes a failed prospect, it loves a comeback. Shafikov, 37-2-1, could easily be in line for another title shot in the weight class. There’s a number of quality fights for him to and he’s likely to make any bout an entertaining clash, even if he doesn't win outright. That's a pretty decent calling card promoters can get behind.
Notes
-Patryk Szymanski went to 16-0 with a competitive decision win over Wilky Campfort on the televised undercard. Campfort came from total obscurity all the way to a Showtime TV fight against Jermall Charlo in 2015. That's where the Cinderella story ended— against Charlo he never looked less than utterly helpless. Back against a more appropriate level of competition, he was more successful, though ultimately outpunched.
-Oscar Negrete, 12-0, was being positioned by Golden Boy Promotions as ready for a title shot following a 10 round unanimous decision win over Jose Bustos on the company’s Fight Club Live show Friday night. That seems a step too far. Headbutts left him with cuts on the scalp and left eye. But in this day and age, who is to say “no”?
-A number of notable fighters made untelevised returns over the weekend: Kermit Cintron won an eight round unanimous decision on the dark portion of the Herring/Shafikov show, and Don King promoted a club show in Pittsburgh, PA where Guillermo Jones, Trevor Bryan, and Amir Iman all fought no-hopers and obtained easy paychecks. Finally, DeMarcus Corley managed to take the title of Jamaican Contender champion in Kingston. “Chop Chop” won three fights in the last 6 weeks on the island nation to win the crown.