In a fight to see who can cement his legacy, Jamel Herring made sure to record an indelible impression.
Herring produced two knockdowns en route to a spectacular sixth-round TKO to retain the WBO junior lightweight title at Caesars Bluewater Dubai on Saturday.
The end came when Herring uncorked a scintillating short left uppercut which ricocheted off the top of Frampton's forehead and dropped him with a heap in the sixth round. Frampton took the full eight count and found himself in major trouble when he arose off the mat, as Herring finished him off with another uppercut and two unanswered lefts, prompting the ref to step in and end the bout.
The round prior, Herring perfectly timed a straight left hand while Frampton walked right into it for the bout's first knockdown. That paved the way for the champion to unleash the definitive fireworks en route to his third straight title defense, as he improves to 23-2 with 11 KOs.
The victory was especially savory for Herring, who bounced back from a disappointing victory via disqualification in September and had to overcome a cut over the same right eye Saturday that gave him trouble during his last bout.
"My last outing wasn't my best. People doubted me. They called me every name in the book, but even with the cut (Saturday), I wasn't going to give up. I wasn't going to quit," said Herring, 35.
The champion added that he'd like to unify the division with WBC junior lightweight champion Oscar Valdez. That being said, prior to the bout, the WBO ordered that the winner of Saturday's fight advances to face the winner of the upcoming bout between Shakur Stevenson and Jeremiah Nakathila. Herring and Stevenson are stablemates.
Overcome with emotion after the loss, Frampton made good on his vow to retire with a loss.
"I said before that I'd retire if I lost this fight," Frampton said, "and that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Jamel Herring vs. Carl Frampton fight card results
- Jamel Herring def. Carl Frampton by sixth-round TKO to retain WBO Junior Lightweight title
- Donnie Nietes def. Pablo Carrillo via unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 96-95); Junior Bantamweight
- Keyshawn Davis def. Richman Ashelley by fourth-round TKO; Junior Welterweight