Jamel Herring vs Jonathan Oquendo Odds and Pick

• Jamel Herring vs Jonathan Oquendo goes Saturday, September 5th, at 7:30 PM ET
• Who emerges from this main event bout with championship gold?
• Check out the fight odds, analysis, and prediction, below
  

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Jamel Herring and Jonathan Oquendo will sling leather inside The Bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this Saturday (Sep. 5th, 7:30 PM ET) with the event set to broadcast on ESPN+.

The WBO junior lightweight world championship is on the line. Herring’s unassailably solid work ethic and undeniable heart have led him to being one of the best in the world but he faces off with a crafty veteran of almost 40 pro bouts this weekend.

Jamel Herring vs Jonathan Oquendo Odds

Odds as of September 2nd.

The two were supposed to fight on July 2nd as well as  July 14th, but both bouts were called off due to Herring testing positive for COVID-19. The ex-marine looks to finally make the long-awaited sophomore defense of his championship against the challenger Oquendo this weekend.

Jamel Herring’s Path to His Second Title Defense

Herring is getting back to action after the most prolonged competitive layoff he’s ever had. It was ten months ago that Herring made his first successful title defense and simultaneously handed Lamont Roach Jr his first loss as a pro.

Herring is currently riding a five-fight win streak after a bit of a tumultuous 1-2 stretch from summer 2016 to summer 2017. “Semper Fi” is settling nicely into his prime and is marrying athletic efficiency with the crafty, seasoned mindset needed to optimize his physical tools.

Two against one in sparring and @JamelHerring is still hard to hit. pic.twitter.com/U1o0DyGPX2

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) August 9, 2020

The goal has long been for Herring to fight Carl Frampton and promoters are still aiming to book Herring vs Frampton in October or November of this year.

Big things are on the horizon for the winner of this bout but both seem laser-focused on the task at hand and have their blinders on, to a degree, as they approach this collision.

Jonathan Oquendo’s Second Chance at a World Title

After tasting defeat to the aforementioned Lamont Roach Jr, Oquendo rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over Charles Huerta in November of last year.

For Oquendo, this could very well be the final crack at a world title for the 37-year-old warrior. After falling short in a December 2015 bid for the WBA world featherweight title, this fight has a redemptive element for Oquendo, who gets a second chance at snatching a world title.

Since signing with TR, @JamelHerring started with a bang on 5.12.18 💥 … and hasn't slowed down since, going 5-0 and snatching a Junior Lightweight strap along the way.#HerringOquendo | SATURDAY | ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/aOAmT71Stc

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) August 31, 2020

Herring comes into this bout with a notable five-inch edge in reach and many other competitive advantages. His refined technique, built up during an amateur run that led to a 2012 Olympic appearance, puts him on an elite level.

The razor-sharp ring generalship and high fight IQ are further bolstered by Herring’s southpaw stance and the myriad of unorthodox angles and footwork options that stance generally provides.

Herring vs Oquendo Tale of the Tape

The relatively low knockout rates of both men lead me to believe that this one will go the full twelve rounds. I foresee Jamel Herring securing the victory here via decision.

Pick: Jamel Herring (-1285)