Jamel Herring considering move to lightweight, possible retirement after loss to Shakur Stevenson

Jamel Herring took his lumps Saturday night and didn’t offer excuses or complex reasoning to explain what happened versus Shakur Stevenson in Atlanta.

“He was just the better man tonight,” the 35-year-old former junior lightweight titlist said on air Saturday.

Herring (23-3, 11 KO) knew he’d have to be at his best, and that it would be helpful to his cause if there were some alignment of stars. He’d have welcomed an inexplicable twist of fate which would allow him to secure a career-best win in the likely twilight of his career against a pound-for-pound talent still improving, not likely near his peak.

Fate had other plans, but Herring showed admirable class and dignity in dealing with defeat. Of course, a quite considerable pay check is a mood-lifter, but that doesn’t stop plenty of athletes from wallowing in self-pity and trafficking in excuse-making after taking an L.

Herring told Bernardo Osuna he’d consider his options, and decide whether to soldier on, or hang up the gloves and transition to the next phase of living. He mentioned the possibility of closing the book on fighting, so he could devote more time and energy to his children. I reached out to Herring on Sunday to follow up.

His children are 17, 14, 11, eight and four years old. “Kamren, age 17, is a senior and has been accepted to three colleges so far,” said the Olympian, who went into pro boxing after serving in the Marines.

“I feel good knowing I put up a good fight with one of the best up-and-coming fighters,” he added. “I had a great camp so there’s no complaints or excuses to be made from me.”

And has he gained more clarity on his thinking regarding his near term path? Wife Jen Herring has been involved in regard to the next move.

“Overall, I feel good just being home with family,” Jamel continued. “I know it’s been only a day but people are also asking what’s next. A part of me would be fine with just walking away but another side of me says just move up to lightweight and see what happens from there.”