In anticipation of this weekend’s junior lightweight title fight between WBO titleholder Jamel Herring and challenger Shakur Stevenson, Top Rank has released its behind the scenes preview series, showcasing both fighters leading into the bout. The full first episode can be watch in the video link above.
The preview kicks off with a look at how tensions between Herring and Stevenson risen over recent months with Stevenson consistently trolling Herring about coming after his belt, with Stevenson welcoming the role as the agitator.
“He’s just a friend of my family at the end of the day. He’s not my friend. He’s not nobody I talk to,” Stevenson said during their presser. “Everything I do is better than Jamel,” Stevenson continues shortly after in the video. “It’s gonna mean everything taking this belt from Jamel.”
Herring, however, isn’t getting into much of an uproar over Stevenson’s provocations, however, being that he’s survived much harsher conditions during his two tours of duty as a marine. Herring talks a bit about that experience here, gives some insight into his struggles with PTSD, and how boxing help keep him out of a dark and dangerous place.
“When you go through those moments, even at that young of an age, it makes you grow up real fast because you come to realize ‘hey, this is not a game, like people are really losing their lives out here so it’s not a game’ Herring said about his experience in Iraq. “By 21 years old I had two deployments under my belt.”
Be sure the check out the video above for the full feature!