Jamel Herring

Jamel William Herring (born October 30, 1985) is an American professional boxer who held the WBO junior lightweight title from 2019 to 2021.

Jamel Herring was born in Rockville Centre, New York, to Michael Mitchell and Jeanine Herring.

His mother remarried to Harry Elliby.

He was raised in Coram, New York, in its Gordon Heights neighborhood.

He was the only United States Marine to compete at the London Olympics and the first active duty marine to qualify for the US boxing team since 1992.

After returning from the London games, Herring made the decision to finish out his service with the United States Marine Corps and become a professional boxer.

He relocated from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, to Cincinnati, Ohio, to work with Mike Stafford.

Simms would eventually be replaced by former All Army coach and 1996 USA Olympic Assistant coach Jesse Ravelo.

While a sophomore at Longwood High School, Jamel began boxing in 2001 when his soon to become trainer Austin Hendrickson invited him to the boxing gym for workouts.

Herring began training in 2001.

He suffered his first amateur loss to Daniel Jacobs on July 20, 2002, during the New York Junior Olympics Finals.

Herring had to balance training as a boxer with his duties as an active United States Marine.

Herring enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in October 2003 at Parris Island, South Carolina.

He has served two tours of duty in Iraq and was based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he earned the rank of Sergeant.

Jamel has six children: Kamren Herring (2004), Stephen Herring (2007), Ariyanah Herring (2009), Jamel Herring Jr. (2010), Jazmyne Herring (2013), and Justice Herring (2017).

He was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2005.

After he returned he immediately tried out for the All Marine Corps boxing team in January 2006.

While on the team, Herring competed all over the national scene and even fought against former world champion Jesse Vargas at the 2006 National PAL tournament.

He was deployed again in 2007 to Al Taqaddum.

Shortly after his return, he went back to the All Marine Corps boxing team in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

From early 2008, he would be trained under Ron Simms, Reuben Woodruff, and Narcisco Aleman.

His daughter Ariyanah died July 27, 2009, from SIDS.

Herring won a silver medal at the 2010 World Military Games and took a gold medal at the 2011 and 2012 Armed Forces Championships while a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.

He would eventually move on to the 2011 AIBA World Championships but lost in a close contest in the first round, forcing him to fight for his spot again at the 2012 USA Boxing Nationals.

The opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games was the 3rd anniversary of her death.

Trained under Ravelo, Woodruff, and Aleman, Jamel would win gold in the 2012 Olympic Trials defeating multiple nationals champions.

In the first round of the tournament he defeated Tommy Duquette, Mike Reed in the second round, Pedro Sosa in the semi-finals, and in the finals he defeated Pedro Sosa again.

After winning the Nationals, he went on to compete in the Americas Qualifiers where he would win a bronze medal and earn a slot at the 2012 games.

Herring qualified for the 2012 Olympics.

Jamel, along with the entire US boxing team, only had two weeks prior to the games to train together as a complete team.

Jamel married his childhood friend Jennifer Dickerson-Herring on September 26, 2015.

In May 2019, he became a world champion by defeating Masayuki Ito to win the WBO junior lightweight title.

Herring outboxed Ito in front of the sold-out crowd, winning almost every round of the fight on two judges' scorecards, and 66 percent of the rounds on the third judge's. Scorecards were 118-110, 118-110 and 116-112 in favor of Herring.

In his first title defense, Herring faced Lamont Roach Jr.. Herring boxed well through most of the fight, but Roach Jr was far from an easy opponent.

Herring was almost dropped by Roach Jr in the ninth round, but managed to recover just before the bell.

In the end, he had done enough to earn the unanimous decision win, 117-111 twice and 115-113 on the scorecards.

His second title defense came against Jonathan Oquendo, on September 5, 2020, after two previously canceled dates, both because Herring tested positive for COVID-19.

Herring was in control during the fight, and was landing the more effective shots.

Herring managed to drop Oquendo in the third round.

The aggressive Oquendo was going head first in multiple occasions during the fight, which ultimately resulted in a cut above Herring's eye.