Jamel Herring Sets Date for Bare-Knuckle Debut
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring is trading the sweet science for something much more visceral. The former WBO super featherweight champion, who spent years navigating the technical precision of professional boxing, is officially set to make his bare-knuckle debut. At 40 years old, Herring isn’t easing into a quiet retirement; he is stepping into the raw, unforgiving world of BKFC to write a violent new chapter in his combat sports career.
Herring is booked to fight at BKFC 86 in early 2026, marking the promotion’s first event of the year. Standing across from him at the Mohegan Sun will be Matt Guymon, a 37-year-old veteran with a mixed record but valuable experience in the circular ring. While Guymon lacks Herring’s championship pedigree, he possesses the specific scar tissue of bare-knuckle combat—having already gone five rounds with top contenders—something Herring has yet to earn.
The bout will be contested at the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds. This marks a strategic shift for Herring, who spent the majority of his prime terrorizing the 130-pound division. He enters a weight class that is currently wide open. With the title recently claimed by Justin Ibarrola, the division is desperate for stars, and Herring’s arrival instantly injects world-class intrigue into the rankings.
Herring’s transition signals a continuing evolution in BKFC’s recruiting strategy: hunting for elite technicians who can adapt. He joins Austin Trout as the only other active roster member to hold a major boxing world title. However, this move carries immense risk. Herring’s boxing resume is ironclad, featuring a defense of his WBO title against names like Lamont Roach Jr.—who recently gained mainstream fame for drawing with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis—and bouts against pound-for-pound phenom Shakur Stevenson.
Yet, history has shown that technical brilliance in boxing doesn’t always guarantee survival when the padding is removed. Herring enters the BKFC following a rocky end to his boxing tenure, including a 1-3 skid and a brief retirement. His willingness to return to combat sports, specifically in its most abrasive form, suggests a fighter who feels he has unfinished business, regardless of the discipline.
Herring will make his walk on the undercard of an event headlined by Julian Lane’s welterweight title defense against Dustin Pague. It is a humble slot for a man who once headlined major boxing cards, but it fits the narrative of a veteran earning his stripes in a new world. If “Semper Fi” can translate his championship pedigree to the bare-knuckle game, he becomes an immediate title threat. If not, the unforgiving nature of the sport will offer a harsh reality check.
