"Whoever they put in front of me, I will beat them to the best of my ability. I'm at the point in my career where I don't worry about if I'm going to win or not. I just focus on how I'm gonna look during my performance...I have a goal and I know eventually one day, I will be up there fighting for a title, but it all comes down to the marketing and people wanting to come out and see you perform...Every fight, I know it's basically impossible to say I'm gonna have a spectacular performance every time I'm in there, but if I don't have my best performance, I hope it's at least better than mediocre," stated up-and-coming lightweight Jamel Herring, who talked about his September 6 return to the ring on the undercard of Broner vs. Taylor. Check out what else he had to say!
PC: September 6th, you're back in the ring. How is it going?
JH: It's going pretty good. I think it's going a lot better than the last time I came to DC to train with Barry Hunter and those guys. I have been enjoying my time here and I think I've been improving a lot.
PC: I was talking to someone from that camp in DC; we were just talking about the amount of talent over there and all the good work you guys are getting.
JH: It's a great experience. Before the card at the Barclays Center that Lamont and Danny Garcia fought on, I was sparring with Lamont a couple of times during the week. I sparred with Anthony; I have been sparring with Robert Easter lately, Hank Lundy, and 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams, so I've been getting plenty of different looks from the top contenders that's recognized around the country and world and I just named a few. So that lets you know right there all of the good work I've been seeing in terms of just sparring alone.
PC: You have already fought twice this year. How do you grade those performances and what are you looking to show in September?
JH: The first performance of the year in January, it was different; a new look. I'm used to fighting guys that are the bigger man, but this time around, I took a fight against a guy that was a natural welterweight and it just basically tested me to see where I was at in terms of boxing skills. I went back to my basics from my amateur days and just boxing. And then my second performance on May 2nd at the Hard Rock, I showed my dominance in terms of my power at that weight class and it was an easy night. I spoke to my management, Al Haymon, and I wanted to stay more active this year and they told me after this fight, they gonna get me at least 2 more fights before the year ends. I will get 5 fights in this year. So far, I've been pretty happy. It's been a learning and growing experience and I think it will all work in the long run.
PC: Is it imperative to stay busy right now? That way when it's time to start title chasing, you can be less active and just take all meaningful fights?
JH: That's how I look at it. Right now, I just try to stay as busy as possible. That way I can keep building and learning, and when the time comes and it's time to go for titles, I could start slowing things down, but right now, I just wanna keep moving and keep going.
PC: Does it matter the opponent or or do you feel like if you're at your best, there is nothing Daniel Attah can do to bother you?
JH: That's how I feel. I got my team and management doing a great job and I feel whoever they put in front of me, I will beat them to the best of my ability. I'm at the point in my career where I don't worry about if I'm going to win or not. I just focus on how I'm gonna look during my performance.
PC: Do you feel the need to look a certain way every time out or do you feel you just have to keep racking up wins?
JH: We all know the pro boxing level is a business first. Of course that comes to mind because I have a goal and I know eventually one day, I will be up there fighting for a title, but it all comes down to the marketing and people wanting to come out and see you perform. I know I have the talent and skill set to win those type of fights, but I always focus on how I'ma look doing it. That comes down to people wanting to buy a ticket to come and see you and the money that you will be making in the long run. Every fight, I know it's basically impossible to say I'm gonna have a spectacular performance every time I'm in there, but if I don't have my best performance, I hope it's at least better than mediocre.
PC: You spend a lot of time in Cincinnati. Is there any pressure on you fighting there in September?
JH: No. You know, Cincinnati is like my second home. My main home of course is New York and I love fighting at the Barclays Center, and even there, it's not a distraction. Even when I have my family, friends, and fans there, I don't worry about the distractions. Once the bell rings, I have tunnel vision and I only focus on the man in front of me. After the last bell, when my hand is raised, then I will focus on everything outside of boxing where I can relax and enjoy life again because all the hard work is behind me.
PC: I saw the wardrobe you're coming out with for this fight. I like the Marine theme. Tell us a little bit about your wardrobe.
JH: Oh yeah, I'm always gonna represent where I came from and who I am. There is a side of me that's always gonna represent that New York pedigree and there is a side that's gonna represent the military side of me. So I try to bring all of that into my fights and shed light and never forget where I came from. How many troops out there really represent for the sport of boxing? So I wanna be that voice for us all. Even Al Haymon told me from the get-go to represent my military background and how good it was for my image and good for my career and marketing. He told me to keep doing what I'm doing and told me I'm doing a great job and he respects the way I carry myself. I'm happy to be able to represent the military in a different light instead of what's going on overseas.
PC: I wish you the best of luck. It's always great talking to you. Is there anything else you wanna add?
JH: I appreciate you taking the time out to contact me and it's always good talking to you. I just want to thank everybody out there for keeping track of my career and appreciating the sport and I enjoy the support and love I have been receiving. If you wanna find me, just hit me up on Twitter or Instagram @JamelHerring. Just stay tuned and let's go out there and have fun on September 6th. It's not just me out there; it's gonna be Rau'shee Warren, Robert Easter, 2008 Olympian Raynell Williams, up-and-coming prospect Jovante Clark, and of course Adrien Broner, and the return of Andre Berto and Lucas Matthysse. It's going to be another good night of boxing.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]