WBO super featherweight champion Jamel Herring, scheduled to defend his belt against Jonathan Oquendo in a July 2nd ESPN main event, revealed on Twitter today that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. On the bright side, “Semper Fi” says he “feel[s] ok” and will self-quarantine until he receives a “clean bill of health.”
Mike Coppinger reports that the bout will be pushed back to July 14th if Herring (21-2, 10 KO) gets the all-clear; Top Rank had reportedly intended to reschedule both Jose Pedraza-Mikkel LesPierre and Mikaela Mayer-Helen Joseph to that date, but ESPN’s schedule has Pedraza-LesPierre going down on the 2nd, as does Coppinger.
This marks the virus’ fourth victory over a Top Rank fight this month and its third against a main or co-main event. In addition to the aforementioned rescheduled fights, Chris Zavala pulled out of a June 16th undercard match opposite Eddie Vazquez. Both Mayer and LesPierre’s manager, Jose Tavares, reportedly tested negative in follow-up exams.
Even with this setback, Top Rank’s July lineup remains stacked, boasting the likes of Ivan Baranchyk vs. Jose Zepeda and Eleider Alvarez vs. Joe Smith Jr. Just, well, don’t get too attached to the dates on paper.