The long-delayed junior lightweight title clash between WBO champion Jamel Herring and former two-division champion Carl Frampton has its latest (and hopefully final) date and location. The pair will meet on April 3rd at The Rotunda in Dubai atop a card that also features a pair of Filipino standouts.
Though they were originally slated to meet this upcoming Saturday in London, Frampton requested an extension to deal with lingering hand issues. He and Herring (22-2, 10 KO) have suffered a number of misfortunes the last few years; may they finally be at an end.
“All of the postponements have been frustrating, but I’m happy that this fight is still happening,” Herring said. “I still have the same hunger I had when this fight will first presented. After watching the great performance Oscar Valdez showcased over the weekend, I’m definitely looking forward to making a statement in this exciting division.
“I know a victory over Frampton will lead to bigger and better things down the road, but I have to take care of Carl Frampton first and I’m totally focused on defending my title on April 3.”
“Delighted to get this the new date and venue confirmed, it’s definitely been a rollercoaster to get here,” Frampton (28-2, 16 KO) said. “This is my chance to make history and fans or no fans, this fight is going to be one fight fans will remember. Jamel is a tough opponent but I’ve put the work in, I have a fire lit inside me and I’m confident that this legacy fight will go in my favour on the night, I’ll be leaving it all in the ring.”
Two of the Philippines’ finest, former four-division champion Donnie Nietes (42-1-5, 23 KO) and rising super bantamweight Albert Pagara (33-1, 23 KO), pull double duty against TBA. The fight will be Nietes’ first since narrowly defeating Kazuto Ioka for the WBO super flyweight title in 2018.
Both were already slated to fight in Dubai on that date.
Per the poster, the card will also host a rescheduled clash between super lightweights Zhankosh Turarov (24-0, 17 KO) and Tyrone McKenna (21-2-1, 6 KO).