Jamel William Herring vs. Jonathan Oquendo Arnaldi

Headlining an ESPN card the night before Independence Day Eve. WBO super featherweight title on the line, Herring's second defense.

They have a recent common opponent in Lamont Roach, Jr. While you can't set much store by triangular logic in boxing, generally speaking, their respective performances in these fights do feel instructive. The venerable (by 130lb standards, now past the hump entering his late thirties) boricua proved himself to be roughly of a level with LRJ, with some feeling he deserved the nod but even if he did it would've been via narrow margins in a fight where his best efforts got largely spoiled. The southpaw champion, on the other hand, schooled Roach whenever he wasn't getting tagged and hurt and on the verge of being KTFO in occasional moments of lapsed concentration.

Polvo doesn't have the work rate or single blow power to make Semper Fi's biggest weakness (his durability) that much of a critical factor. Herring should be able to set the pace and smoothly outbox him. That said, while I like him, as far as titlists go he's among the weakest, and Oquendo is a gritty contender with thus far maintained longevity, so it wouldn't be the craziest upset if he did slug his way to finally capturing a belt (just don't hold your breath for a long reign if he does; I'd doubt he makes one successful defense tbh).

 

Got bumped to July 14th.

 

Weigh-ins should be here in a few hours:

https://www.youtube.com/user/trboxing

 

Yeah looking at the WBO top 15, of all the possible non-voluntary defenses he could make this one might be the most favorable.

 

Omg wtf are you serious

 

So, they're forging ahead with this card with Mikalea Joslin Mayer vs. Helen Joseph as the main event? Good luck with that one, Top Rank...

I suppose a certain built-in cult audience will tune in for Collard alone, but still.

 

This decapitated event wasn't worth a RBR but here's a reminder that it's happening:

https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/1f84a9f5-6425-4f73-a4c2-a51be51ecdd5