By Chris Williams: Jamel ‘Semper Fi’ Herring weighed in at 129.8 lbs on Friday for the defense of his WBO super featherweight title against Shakur Stevenson (16-0, 8 KOs) for Saturday’s fight at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Shakur weighed in at 130 lbs.
This is a Top Rank promoted card that will be shown on ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+. The start time is at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
The young lion Stevenson, 24, is a massive 9 to 1 favorite to beat Herring (23-2, 11 KOs). We’ll see if the oddsmakers know they’re stuff because the 5’10” Herring is accustomed to being the underdog, and he proves them wrong every time.
The 35-year-old Herring will have a three-inch height and a four-inch reach advantage over the 5’7″ Stevenson for this fight. It’s a rare fight for Stevenson to be giving up height and reach against an opponent.
Officials for Herring vs. Stevenson fight:
- Mark Nelson – Referee
- Glenn Feldman – Judge
- Ed Janner – Judge
- Rocky Young – Judge
Undercard weights:
• Xander Zayas 153.2. lbs vs. Dan Karpency 153.2 lbs
• Nico Ali Walsh 162 lbs vs. James Westley II 159.6 lbs
• Evan Holyfield 151.6 lbs vs. Charles Stanford 151.6 lbs
• Troy Isley 156.8 lbs vs. Nicholi Navarro 156 lbs
• Roddricus Livsey 142.4 lbs vs. Eric Palmer 141 lbs
• Haven Brady Jr. 127 lbs vs. Roberto Negrete 127 lbs
• Antoine Cobb 144.2 lbs vs. Jerrion Campbell 142.4 lbs
• Harley Mederos 136 lbs vs. Deljerro Revello 135.8 lbs
Shakur Stevenson ready to handle business
“I’m hungry and on Saturday, we’re going to handle business,” said Shakur Stevenson to Top Rank Boxing. “What I said, I stand on. Everything I said, and on Saturday I’m going to stand on it too.”
“It doesn’t bother me at all,” said Herring about being the underdog to the 24-year-old Stevenson. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in this position and it probably won’t be the last time.
“I’m not really big on the odds or anything, so I already knew coming into this fight that he would be the favorite and it’s cool,” said Herring about him being a HUGE 9 to 1 underdog to Shakur.
“But in terms of numbers, I can’t tell you. I don’t get into it like that. I think he has more pressure because he’s young and he has a lot more to go in his career,” Jamel Herring said of Stevenson.
“My career, I’m not saying it’s over, but he’s the upcoming rising star,” said Herring on Shakur being a rising star. “So, of course, when they put him in the leagues of the Floyds, the Pernell Whitakers, and the guys that we idolized coming up. Of course, that’s more pressure on him.
“I’m not saying that he doesn’t know how to handle or take it, but for me at this point, I’m just enjoying the ride and enjoying what I do,” Herring said.
“I don’t think age has nothing to do with it,” said Stevenson. “I feel like he’s been fighting the best at the end of his career, but I feel like he’s going up against somebody that’s on a whole another level. That’s how I feel.
Shakur ready to prove himself against Herring
“I got to prove it and I got to show up on Saturday and do everything I’m saying, but age ain’t going to play a part because he’s disciplined.
“He’s got a great team with him and you got to give him the respect that he deserves in defending his title the way and putting on the performances like the way he did against Frampton,” Shakur said of Herring.
“I feel like I’m going to outthink Jamel. I think Jamel depends on his team to come up with the game plan and follow the game plan and looking for his team to come up with all these things,” said Stevenson.
“When you get in the ring, it’s going to be Jamel vs. Shakur. They can’t get in the ring and fight for him. He’s going to have to himself,” said Stevenson about Herring.