Boxing
Ben Baby, ESPN Staff Writer 2y

Jamel Herring says 'it's time to move on' after loss to Jamaine Ortiz

Boxing

Former junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring indicated that he will retire following a loss to Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday night at the Resorts World Las Vegas.

"I appreciate everything," Herring said in a tweet. "Thank you all. It's time to move on and enjoy more time with my family."

Herring suffered a unanimous decision loss (97-93, 97-93, 96-94) to Ortiz, an undefeated prospect from Worcester, Massachusetts. It was the second straight defeat for Herring (23-4, 11 KOs), who lost his WBO junior lightweight title to Shakur Stevenson in October.

"I love this sport, but I owe it to my family to quit putting them through these moments," Herring said in a subsequent tweet. "Thank you all, whether you were with or against me, you made me who I am, but it's time."

Herring, a 36-year-old former Marine, bounced back from losses in 2016 and 2017 to go on seven-fight winning streak that culminated in a technical knockout win over Carl Frampton in March 2021 to win the WBO's title in the 130-pound division. Herring knocked Frampton down twice to force a stoppage in the sixth round.

In his first title defense, he was matched against Stevenson, who is considered one of the best prospects in boxing. Stevenson cruised in a 10th-round TKO victory.

Ortiz (15-0-1) was also a touted Top Rank prospect entering Saturday's fight against Herring.

"After tonight," Herring said, "I just don't think I'm where I need to be, especially to fight at an elite level anymore."

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