U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jamel "Semper Fi" Herring completed his Hollywood story, upsetting WBO junior lightweight world champion Masayuki "The Judge" Ito via unanimous decision Saturday evening in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,912 at Osceola Heritage Park. (photos by Mikey Williams)
Herring (20-2, 10 KOs), who prevailed by scores of 116-112 and 118-110 2x, accomplished the dream on Memorial Day weekend in front of a host of active and reserve U.S. Marines.
Ito (25-2-1, 13 KOs), who was making the second defense of his world title, never could quite figure out the southpaw puzzle of Herring.
Ito had some success in the early rounds, but in the end, it was Herring who closed the show stronger.
Former two-division world champion Jose "Sniper" Pedraza is on the hunt again.
Pedraza (26-2, 13 KOs) knocked out Mexican veteran Antonio Lozada Jr. in the ninth round to win the vacant WBO Latino lightweight title. Lozada (40-3-1, 24 KOs) had not tasted defeat in nearly six years, while Pedraza rebounded from a game effort in a decision loss to Vasiliy Lomachenko last December.