After failing a second Covid-19 test in a matter of weeks, WBO super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring has cast doubt on the accuracy of the tests.
The luckless Herring originally failed a test on June 22, but tested negative on July 3. After displaying no further symptoms while on course to easily make the weight for his July 14 defence against Jonathan Oquendo, Herring was shocked to find he had failed a second test on the eve of the fight.
A follow-up antibody test apparently disproved the second test result (a false positive) yet Herring-Oquendo was still cancelled and Mikaela Mayer’s super-featherweight bout with Helen Joseph elevated to main event status at tonight’s show at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
“These tests are 30% faulty,” a bemused Herring posted on Twitter. “I even woke up today on weight, ready to go, and even took an antibody test this morning to prove I’m fine, but the commission didn’t want to risk it.
“Crazy thing is… this was the easiest weight cut that I had! I wasn’t drained, and I could’ve made weight earlier last week. My trainer and manager Brian ‘Bomac’ McIntyre wanted to see if I could compete at 126 [featherweight]… but that’s pushing it.
“I did everything possible. They asked me to take the antibody test this morning [which disproved the second positive result], just for them to return and cancel the fight.”
Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) may now have to wait until August for a rearranged date for his second defence. A fight with two-weight champion Carl Frampton remains in the pipeline for late 2020.
Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank.