Jamel Herring has credited Terence Crawford with improving him as a fighter.
Herring will fight Carl Frampton this Saturday in Dubai with the 35-year-old American WBO super featherweight champion’s belt on the line.
The pair of them have sparred in the build up to Herring’s fight, with the WBO welterweight sparring and going on runs with him.
“He is like another trainer to me, because he is not there to be buddy, buddy in the gym,” Herring said, according to BoxingScene.com. “When we leave the gym we can be brothers and laugh and joke, but he is there to really push me.
“We have sparred a lot and he is a natural welterweight now. I enjoy working with him because if I can go through rigorous rounds in training with him, then fighting guys at my natural weight – and I don’t really believe that super-featherweight is Carl Frampton’s natural weight, because he has only had one or two fights there – mentally, it shouldn’t get to you.
“Bud has been at my side for all of my fights since we were training together, making sure I don’t slack. It is great to have a guy like that walking beside you and pushing you along the same track.
“I have got one of the best fighters in the world. Bud feels I am well prepared for this fight, he has no worries for me because he has watched over me and even with the postponements, I have not lost any of the hunger. I’m definitely ready and excited for the fight. I have put in more than enough work for this, I will be ready when the bell rings.”
Frampton suggested to Chris Mannix on his DAZN show that Herring may be struggling to maintain his weight for a fight at 130lbs given his 5’10” frame, but Herring is confident it will not be a problem.
“When I met Carl in November 2019, they thought I was 30 pounds over the limit, but I was actually already at a good weight,” Herring explained.
“I don’t believe in blowing up crazy between fights. The size difference was noticeable, but while I might be bigger, I give him the respect because Carl has a lot of experience and championship fights.
“But he was a super bantamweight and, as an amateur, I have come down from close to welterweight. I am definitely the bigger man.”