Mikaela Mayer will headline Top Rank’s latest bill inside The Bubble on Tuesday against Helen Joseph after replacing Jamel Herring who tested positive for COVID-19 again.
Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) was due to face Jonathan Oquendo (31-6, 19 KOs) in a rescheduled clash after Herring had tested positive for COVID-19 and last night the former Olympian was presented with the news that he has registered a second positive test.
Herring revealed that he had taken an antibody test which came back negative, although the Nevada State Athletic commission had already postponed the bout with Oquendo, allowing Mayer to step in.
Mayer (12-0, 5 KOs) has recovered from her own bout of Coronavirus which ruled her out of her original clash with Joseph set for the undercard of Shakur Stevenson’s victory over Felix Carabello on June 8.
“It came as a complete surprise,” Mayer said at the time.
“The rest of my team tested negative, and they are all in good health. I’m disappointed for myself, my team, my supporters, and for my opponent, who has worked just as hard to be here this week to put on a show for everyone.”
These test are 30% faulty… Here’s clearly my timeline of when I contracted the virus, til the time I came back negative. 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. https://t.co/7Mv3ex0jbo pic.twitter.com/pItpOwq0rA
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) July 13, 2020
Mayer did argue that it was a false positive, but Top Rank and MGM Grand were not about to take any chances. Luckily, Mayer is in fine health, and her contest with Joseph (17-4-2, 10 KOa) can now go ahead safely and as originally planned.
2016 USA Olympian Mayer is on the cusp of a World title shot, potentially against WBC champion Terri Harper and has so far picked up the NABF belt and defended it three times in a 12 fight ledger.
She was last seen in October 2019, recording a sixth round retirement win against Argentina’s Alejandra Soledad Zamora in Reno.
Joseph represents a big step up for Meyer, as the Connecticut resident has twice unsuccessfully challenged for the IBF world title at Featherweight.
The Nigerian’s last appearance was in November last year, a ten round points loss to Delfine Persoon in Belgium. Persoon had given Katie Taylor life and death inside Madison Square Garden just five months earlier and will face her in a rematch on August 22 in Matchroom’s ‘Fight Camp.’
Mixing at that level shows that Mayer will be on her guard, and will take the threat of Joseph seriously.
Prediction: Mayer should be able to negate Joseph’a attacks with her superior boxing IQ and skills, and should come through handily enough on the scorecards, as I can’t see Joseph failing to hear the final bell.
In another blow to the bill, the Featherweight fight between Luis Mendelez (8-1, 6 KOs) and Edward Vazquez (7-0, 1 KO) has been abandoned after Mendelez tested positive for Coronavirus.
Two six round fights are on offer, as Columbia’s Ruben Cervera (11-2, 10 KOs) meets Clay Burns (9-8-2, 4 KOs) in a Lightweight battle.
Whilst at Middleweight, Clay Collard (7-2-3, 2 KOs) and Lorawnt T Nelson (5-3, 4 KOs) clash.
The four rounder on the bill is at Super Middleweight, with Milwaukee’s Javier Martinez making his professional debut against Jonathan Burrs (2-1).
