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Fighting on July 4 weekend is special for lightweight Jamel Herring.He represented the United States in the 2012 Olympics and was captain of the boxing team. Before that he served nine years in the U.S. Marines, including two tours of duty in Iraq (where he was a field electrician), the reason why he got such a late start to his professional career.So to be able to fight on the most patriotic of weekends is a big deal for Herring, 30, who will face the most significant opponent of his career when he meets former two-time world title challenger Denis Shafikov in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions card on Saturday night (ESPN and ESPN Deportes, 9 p.m. ET) at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.Its a huge honor and blessing to headline on ESPN on Fourth of July weekend, Herring said. I want to put on a good show. Its an extra special honor on this weekend, being that I was a Marine and to headline, and I want to put on a patriotic and great performance.Herring (15-0, 8 KOs), a 2012 U.S. amateur national champion at 141 pounds, has been brought along slowly by manager Al Haymon but is really ramping up his competition against fellow southpaw Shafikov, of Russia.I have a great deal of respect for Shafikov, Herring said. Tough guy, experienced -- but he had his chance. Its my time. Its my toughest fight on paper, but I feel good. It is my time to earn my respect.Shafikov, 31, has twice fought for a lightweight word title but came up short each time. In his last fight, in December, Shafikov (36-2-1, 19 KOs) lost a unanimous decision challenging Rances Barthelemy for a vacant 135-pound belt. In 2014, he lost a unanimous decision to then-titleholder Miguel Vazquez.Now he hopes to win and pave the way for another opportunity.Everything went well in camp. We had a four-month camp, Shafikov said through a translator. We were supposed to fight a couple of months ago, but when that fight was cancelled, I relaxed for a minute and then this opportunity came up.Herring has a great record and he represented the U.S. in the Olympics. He is still young, and I feel that my experience will be the determining factor. I accepted this fight because a win gets us in line for big opportunities, including another shot at a world championship.Herring grew up in Coram, New York, but now lives in Cincinnati, where he trains with Mike Stafford and is part of the same stable as former four-division world titleholder Adrien Broner. Herring trained in Cincinnati during the early part of his camp to prepare for Shafikov and then relocated to Washington, D.C., to finish up at Barry Hunters talent-rich gym.Camp was great. During my time in D.C., I sparred with [former junior welterweight titlist] Lamont Peterson, said Herring, who noted that Peterson, a right-hander, did him a favor by turning southpaw for their sparring sessions.Although Shafikov is vastly more experienced as a professional compared to Herring, he is also the smaller man. Herring, at 5-foot-9, will own a four-inch height advantage.I was 15 years old when I first started boxing, Herring said. I had a close friend, and his father was a trainer. When I was a kid, he always asked me and nagged me to come to the gym, but I wasnt really into boxing. I was more into team sports, like basketball, football, and things like that. As a kid, when I thought of boxing, I thought of the Rocky movies -- I saw all the punishment that they would take and I thought, I dont know about that.But after a while, he came by and told me how much fun it was, so I gave it a try one day and I stuck to it for good. I had about 92 amateur fights altogether. I think I had about 14 losses. When I joined the Marine Corps in 2003, I had to take a little break from boxing, so I didnt get back into it until 2006. Then the Marine Corps deployed me back to Iraq again in 2007. Then I came back in 2008 and started boxing again.One of his sons, Stephen, was born while he was deployed in Iraq.With his Olympic credentials, connections to Haymon and a strong work ethic, Herring is probably not too far away far from getting a shot at a world title, but beating Shafikov is imperative if he wants one.I believe a win will open the doors for a world title [fight], said Herring, a married father of two sons, a daughter and a step-daughter. In my mind, I am taking this fight as a world title fight. That is how important this fight is, and before the end of the year I hope to get a crack at a world title.In the co-feature, 23-year-old Polish junior middleweight Patrick Szymanski (15-0, 9 KOs) will face former world title challenger Silky Wilky Campfort (21-2, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight.Im excited about the opportunity to take on an experienced opponent, Szymanski said. I think it will be a good test for me and a chance to show off my skills.Ive worked very hard so that I can leave an impression with my performance. These are the kind of fights that I have to win and win in style if I want to reach my goals in this sport.Campfort, 31, born in Haiti and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is coming off a fourth-round knockout loss challenging Jermall Charlo for his 154-pound world title in November. He is not sure what to expect from Szymanski.I dont know too much about my opponent, but I did see him fight once in Tampa, Campfort said. Come Saturday night, I will see what he has. It means a lot to fight on ESPN. The first fight that I saw that involved a fellow Haitian was Daniel Edouard on ESPN and it gave me a lot of motivation to pursue my career. I am not only fighting for myself, but all of the people in Haiti and Florida that have been supporting me.A win will put me right back into where I was when I had my long winning streak. A win will put me back in the mix at 154 pounds.NFL Jerseys Cheap . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Wholesale Football Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.authenticwholesalejerseyscheap.com/ . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . Aaron Harrison scored a 22 points for Kentucky (6-1), which has won four in a row following a Nov. 12 loss to current No. 1 Michigan State. Julius Randle overcame a scoreless first half and added his sixth double-double in as many games with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Wholesale Jerseys China . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos.FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- A.J. Hawks passion for working out could have him in position to make a quick impact with the Atlanta Falcons, who badly need help at linebacker.Hawk said he never stopped working out after being released by Cincinnati in April and would have continued his routine even if there was no chance of extending his career.I never really stopped doing anything, Hawk said. Whether or not a team called, I was going to be ready. I enjoy working out.The Falcons signed Hawk, 32, on Tuesday. The team hopes he can draw upon his 10 years in the NFL, including nine with Green Bay, and be ready to play in Sundays game at Denver.Thats a short time to pick up a defensive scheme. Hawk insisted its not an unrealistic request.Why not? Hawk asked Thursday before his second practice with the team. Everyone here is a football player. Its what we do. Its what Ive done since I was in the second grade.Hawk said Atlanta has a good scheme to learn quickly.The great thing they do here, especially defensively, is they dont over-complicate things, he said. They have their defense and they try to perfect it. They tweak things here and there and make sure theyre doing the right things, playing fast and playing hard. I respect that. I think thats the best thing about this whole team.The Falcons need help at linebacker following a spree of injuries.Atlanta veteran Sean Weatherspoon was placed on injured reserve with an Achilles tendon injury he suffered in last weeks win over Carolina. Rookie starter Deion Jones left the game with an ankle injury.Another rookie, DeVondre Campbell, was held out last week with an ankle injury. Paul Worrilow, a former starter who had been playing behind Jones, also missed the game with a groin injury.Coach Dan Quinn said Hawk is looking like a good fit.ddddddddddddWe were very pleased on his first day, Quinn said before Thursdays practice, adding that Hawks understanding of the Falcons coverages totally came across.Its not going to be an extensive package for him. We want to make sure that the things he does know he can really fly and let his football playing ability take over as opposed to too many checks.Jones, Campbell, 2015 first-round pick Vic Beasley Jr., a linebacker-defensive end, and 2016 first-rounder Keanu Neal, a safety, have provided more speed and athleticism to the defense. The high-scoring offense has earned the headlines as the Falcons (3-1) have taken the NFC South lead. Quinn is counting on more big plays from the defense in the future.Hawk said he had been following the Falcons from his home in Columbus, Ohio, even before he was called this week.I definitely knew I wouldnt have left Ohio for a team that looked like they werent going to win or wasnt on a winning path, he said. I had only heard great things about Atlanta, even before they started out 3-1. It just turned out that I was lucky they were the one that called.LaRoy Reynolds likely would start at weakside linebacker if Jones and Worrilow cant play. Philip Wheeler is the backup for Campbell.Campbell, Jones and Worrilow were held out on Wednesday and Thursday.The Falcons initially said Jones had a calf injury. Quinn said the pain moved around a little to Jones ankle.Quinn said the new description of the injury is not more of a concern.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '