Philippines, 22 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Throwdown in A-Town: Jamel Herring & Shakur Stevenson Ignite Bad Blood at Atlanta Press Conference

PhilBoxing.com





Tickets go sale on TOMORROW, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. ET

Herring-Stevenson, Nico Ali Walsh and a co-feature to air live Saturday, Oct. 23 on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT

ATLANTA (September 9, 2021) — WBO junior lightweight world champion Jamel "Semper Fi" Herring and undefeated former featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson have trained together and share many of the same friends. Sometimes friends make the best enemies.

Herring will defend his world title against Stevenson on Saturday, Oct. 23 (ESPN & ESPN Deportes, 10:30 p.m. ET) at the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta. One of the year's most anticipated fight cards will also include the return of middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of "The Greatest," who turned pro in August with a first-round knockout.

The undercard — streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ — will see the return of Olympian Troy Isley (2-0, 1 KO) in a six-rounder at middleweight, Georgia native Haven Brady Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) in a four-round featherweight tilt, and the A-Town debut of junior middleweight prospect Evan “Yung Holy” Holyfield (7-0, 5 KOs), an Atlanta native and the son of heavyweight legend Evander Holyfield.

Tickets go on sale TOMORROW, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. ET and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.

At Thursday's kickoff press conference, this is what Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and the fighters had to say.

Bob Arum

"We have the champion, Jamel Herring, who is a real tough, tough guy. You don't serve two tours of duty as a Marine in Iraq unless you're a tough guy. The knock on Jamel had been he didn't have much punching power. But he showed that he did when he recently stopped the great {Carl} Frampton. I know that he is poised and ready for this fight, and you'll see 'The Fighting Marine' in action. Now, it's no easy task for him because he faces the young man that many of us in boxing have been touting for years as being the new face of boxing, the new star in boxing, the guy who will beat everybody on his way to superstar glory. And so far, Shakur Stevenson has demonstrated that ability. He knows this is a tough fight, but he always comes prepared. I guarantee you all that you will be seeing a tremendous, competitive main event on Oct. 23."

Jamel Herring

"I look at every fight different. This fight is no easier than any fight I've had in the past. I always gave Shakur his respect. I know what I'm going up against, but that's what motivates me to go in the gym and do what I have to do. I don't take anyone lightly. It's familiar territory and another day in the life of Jamel Herring. That's just how it is."

"They're making Shakur out to be the future superstar, but again, maybe he will be a future star in his own right, but right now, we're focusing on the now. I still feel like I have things to prove to myself, and I'm just going to go out and do what I have to do."

"Lately, Atlanta has been growing as another city for boxing. It's great to just not be in a 'bubble.' It's great to actually have fans in attendance for a change. The fans do play a huge part, especially in these big fights. Sometimes you need that crowd to push you and get you riled up. I believe Atlanta will have that great atmosphere that both of us will feed upon on Oct. 23."

"We both have something to prove in our own rights. He's young, and he wants to be a two-division champion, which I respect. I feel like I've always been counted out. I'm still just fighting for my respect. That's what keeps me motivated and hungry. I think this fight will bring out the best in both of us."

Shakur Stevenson

"It's an amazing opportunity to be back here fighting for another world title. My last world title, I fought in October (2019 against Joet Gonzalez). This world title, I fight in October. It's going to be no different. I'm coming here to dominate. Jamel is a solid fighter. He has a great team around him, but it's going to be my night. That's how I feel."

"{Jamel} is a just a friend of my family. He's not my friend. He's not nobody I talk to outside of boxing. We don't got no relationship outside of boxing. He's somebody I see around. He messes with the same people I mess with. Other than that, we're not friends. I've never really been his friend. He's cool people. I don't got no problem with him at all. It ain't like I check up on him when I'm not fighting or he checks up on me. I don't consider that a friend.

"At the end of the day, I'm coming in there to handle business, and I'm going to make sure I win."

Nico Ali Walsh

"First of all, it's an honor to be sitting here with Shakur Stevenson and Jamel Herring. It's an honor to be a part of this card, and I think it's very important for me to be in Atlanta because of the history, obviously, with my grandfather. And my aunt {Laila Ali} fought here as well. It's just a really exciting time in my life, and I'm really excited for this journey."

"Everyone I talked to, whether it be Mike Tyson or Tyson Fury or any other professional fighter that I look up to, has said that the first fight is always the hardest because you don't know what to expect. I'm blessed now that I've gotten the first fight over with, and now I'm just looking forward to having fun and enjoying the rest of my boxing career."




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Bohat fights for PBF Silver bantamweight crown
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • AGM Bernardino to hold chess simul in San Manuel, Tarlac
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • JONES VS. GUALTIERI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: From Madrid to Johannesburg – The Legacy of the WBC in South Africa
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TYSON VS. MAYWEATHER EXHIBITION IS ON— TYSON BROKEN HAND PUSHES EVENT FROM SPRING TO FALL OF 2026
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Three Lions Promotions Building pro boxing back to Glory days in Metro Vancouver
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Jenn Perella shines, Bobby Laing stops Russ Kimber in 1st round
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Gustavo Trujillo Looks to Continue his Rise in the Heavyweight Division
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante rules 2026 Buffalo’s Pro Classic 1 Ball One Pocket Division
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures Eight More Victories on Day Three of 2026 Copa America
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 MAY 2026: Davis Outpoints Albright; Kuse Dethrones Jerusalem; Donovan Defeats Chukhadzhian; Hrgovic Stops Allen
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Rally from 22 Points Down to Beat Cavs 115-104 in OT
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Filipino grabs second place in the National Canada Chess Challenge 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 0 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • It’s in the blood
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • “The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Rematch option for Melvin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
    , Tue, 19 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.