WBO super-featherweight king Jamel Herring doesn't believe he gets the respect he deserves
Jamel Herring and Shakur Stevenson went head to head as they prepare for their highly-anticipated WBO super-featherweight title showdown next month.
Herring (23-2, 11 KOs) defends his world title against unbeaten Stevenson (16-0, 8 KOs) at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday 23 October.
The two fighters were involved in a launch press conference on Thursday, and they each gave their prediction for how things will unfold on fight night.
Herring said: “I know what I’m up against and that motivates me to be in the gym. I’ve had the criticism and I take everything that was said and put it on the back burner. Now it’s about taking care of business.
“People say Shakur is a future star. I think he will be, but not right now. I’ll beat him and then I might get the respect. Winky Wright didn’t get the respect, even after he was a world champion, the same for Bernard Hopkins. He didn’t get his shine until he fought Trinidad.
“I see guys that have laid the ground for fighters like myself who don’t get the respect. I feel as long as I continue to work and do what I do, I will get the respect that I deserve eventually.
“Every day holding the title is a blessing. This is a big fight, and the biggest fight in the division right now, so I’m really looking forward to it. Atlanta has been growing as another city for boxing, and it’s good to just not be in a bubble and have fans! They play a huge part and there will be a great atmosphere in Atlanta.”
Stevenson said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to be here fighting for another world title. It will be no different to the world title at featherweight as I’m here to dominate.
“Jamel is a solid fighter and has a great team around him, but I will win. This is my type of audience. My mother used to live here so I was here a lot in Atlanta. I’ll be a crowd pleaser and put on the best performance I can.
“The fans should expect a superstar to be born. The better the fighter the better I get with my performance, and I’ll turn up on fight night.
“Me and Jamel don’t have a relationship outside of boxing, we’re not friends. I have no problem at all with him, but it’s just business.”
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