Jamel Herring vs Carl Frampton not viable right now, says Bob Arum, both to take interim bouts

History may well be delayed. With Carl Frampton chomping at the bit for his chance to become Ireland’s first ever three-weight world champion, and a challenge to WBO super-featherweight king Jamel Herring signed and sealed, it now appears the ongoing impact of Covid-19 will force both men to have bouts in the interim. For Frampton, who made an impressive debut at 130lbs in December, that could mean an appearance alongside - not against - friend and unbeaten former amateur star Michael Conlan in Belfast this summer.

Living legend Bob Arum, boss at Top Rank, who promote Herring, believes all parties may be best served by delaying their clash.

"That may very well be the case because we have a real problem," Arum admitted. "In the UK, they probably will not be able to do events in the foreseeable future with spectators, so to send Herring over to the UK to do that fight without spectators. On the other hand, Frank Warren discussed with us having Frampton come to the United States to fight Herring. The problem with that is, Frampton can’t get in, because of the travel ban.
"So, again, maybe the easiest thing to do, is to give Frampton a fight in the UK against some Brit and give Herring a fight in the United States, with no spectators, against a good contender. Hopefully they’ll both be successful and then, when spectators are allowed, hopefully later this year in the winter, they can do that fight."

As you can see below, Arum also discusses Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury, Josh Warrington vs Shakur Stevenson and Terence Crawford vs Kell Brook.