Jamel Herring (23-3) can still make the 130 pound super featherweight limit comfortably. 

The 2012 U.S. Olympian last fought in October when he lost his WBO super featherweight title to Shakur Stevenson in Atlanta. 

His next fight takes place on Saturday night at Resorts World in Las Vegas against Jamaine Ortiz (15-0-1). The 10 round lightweight bout will serve as the ESPN co-feature bout in support of the Zhanibek Alimkhanuly-Danny Dignum main event.  

Stevenson has looked dominant in his young career, winning titles in two weight classes and recently unifying at 130 points with a unanimous decision victory over Oscar Valdez. 

The 24-year-old’s dominance in the professional ranks is one reason why Herring took the loss in stride and still believes he is at the top of his game. 

“I’m staying motivated. I’m mentally tough. I took it as a learning lesson and dusted myself off and am I me ready to get back in it,” Herring recently told BoxingScene.com. 

According to Herring, the reason for the move up in weight was simply about the opportunity and not because he can’t make 130 anymore. 

“The fight is at 135 against Jamaine Ortiz. A lot of people know him from his fight versus Joseph Adorno that was a draw. I have no issue going back to 130 but at the time with Top Rank there was nobody to fight at 130,” Herring stated. 

He wanted a higher profile fight in the lightweight division but those attempts failed as well. 

“I tried to fight Richard Commey at 135 but his team said 'no' to that fight. We tried to fight Robson Conceicao but he had visa issues so we had to scrap that fight. Then the Ortiz fight came and I just want to get back in the ring so I said let’s do it,” said Herring. 

If all goes well on Saturday, Herring said that he is open to big fights in both the super featherweight and lightweight divisions. 

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