Jamel Herring hopes a title shot will come with Moralde victory

By Ryan Burton

The vacant USBA super featherweight title will be at later on tonight when Jamel Herring (17-2) steps in the ring against John Vincent Moralde (20-1) in Fresno, California.  The fight will serve as the chief supporting bout underneath the Jose Ramirez-Antonio Orozco main event.  Both fights will air live on ESPN.

Herring, who was a 2012 US Olympian began his career at 135 and decided to make the move down to 130 pounds after joining forces with trainer/manager Brian "Bomac" McIntyre and new promoter Top Rank Inc.

His first fight with his team took place in May and was contested at a catchweight of 133 pounds to test the waters.  Herring feels good at the weight and knows that a victory over Moralde will lead to bigger and better things. Moralde is a very tough opponent who gave Ismail Muwendo his first loss back on May 26th.  

"To me I just have to focus on the task at hand. He is a pretty decent opponent and I am not taking nothing away from him. I have to get the victory and demonstrate the game plan we have been working on all camp to get that belt. Like I said if I pull off a victory here bigger and greater things will come. I am ready and pumped to go," said Herring.

The 130 pound division is loaded with talent and Top Rank has several fighters in that weight class and just broadcast WBO champion Masayuki Ito's exciting victory over Christopher Diaz in July.  In addition to Diaz, the promotional outfit also promotes Andy Vences, Erik De Leon, Saul Rodriguez, Jason Sosa, and several other fighters.

Herring is confident that with a victory tonight he will get a title shot by the end of the year.

"After this fight obviously I will be ranked high enough to be in the mix for those championship caliber fights but like I said I just have to take it one round at a time. I know for a fact I will get the W and I will be in the mix before the end of this year," Herring opined.

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