Jamel Herring remembers his first time he flew into the Middle East. He was a 19-year-old US Marine off to Iraq and as the plane came in to land, he had a genuine concern that it could be shot down
Sixteen years on, Herring is in Dubai where he defends his WBO super-featherweight title on Saturday against Carl Frampton at Caesars Palace.
“This is definitely a change, a good change,” Herring said. “It was nerve-wracking because you just didn’t know what to expect. My big fear was the thought of being shot out of the sky.
“I saw a lot of roadside bombings, I even had an incident when an RPG [rocket propelled grenade] flew over my head. I thought I was seeing things before I heard the explosion go off in the background.
“I would rather be in the desert in peacetime rather than war time. Growing up I had never experienced anything like that. It makes you more mature and makes you appreciate the things you have in life.”
A native New Yorker, he was motivated to sign up in the wake of the 9/11 attacks prompted by a desire to serve his country.
“I was junior year in high school,” he said. “I had friends who had relatives who worked at the World Trade Centre, so it was scary seeing what they went through. Being a kid, I just didn’t know how to take it all in.
“My closest friend in high school, who graduated before me, signed up for the Marine Corps. The 9/11 attacks definitely played a big part.”
As well as two tours of Iraq, it saw Herring join the US Marine Corps boxing team, following in the footsteps of some illustrious names including Ken Norton and Leon Spinks, two world heavyweight champions who beat Muhammad Ali.
That in turn led to the 2012 Olympics in London, where he was named boxing team captain. It proved to be a tough tournament. Two women won medals, but none of the men, leading them to be labelled the worst American boxing team in history.
“We were marked as the Olympic team that didn’t medal at all,” Herring said. “You had amateurs, who I had beaten, but because they were not on that Olympic team, they weren’t judged by it. I’m an Olympian but I still had to start from scratch.
“It’s a lot different from Pernell Whitaker, Evander Holyfield and those guys. There was no celebration for us coming home. We had to start from ground zero, to grind and move our way up.
“I wasn’t expected to win a world title, but I took that as motivation. I always see myself as the underdog. I think it is up to you to prove others wrong and you can write your own story.”
There were setbacks along the way as a professional, but Herring became a world champion in 2018, beating Masayuki Ito, of Japan, on points. This will be his third defence of the title, although Frampton, a two-division world champion from Northern Ireland, is a step up in class
Herring, though, has a size advantage. He boxed as a light-welterweight as an amateur, while Frampton has competed for most of his career as a super-bantamweight, four divisions below.
“We met in November 2019 and they thought I was 30 pounds over the limit, but I was actually already at a good weight,” he said. “The size difference was noticeable, but while I might be bigger, I give him the respect because Carl has a lot of experience and championship fights. Carl is definitely the biggest name I have come up against.”
They should have initially met in Belfast, Frampton’s home city, last summer, but the pandemic intervened. Herring then fell ill with Covid and the fights was most recently pushed back from last month in London because Frampton had a hand injury.
Herring is expecting a difficult night, but no matter how tough it gets, he has his US Marines training to fall back on. Nothing he experiences in boxing is as hard as that.
“I owe being mentally tough to the Marine Corps because I have been in some tough scenarios and nothing can compare to that in the ring,” he said. “When I am having a rough day, I think about how far I have come as an individual.
“I love boxing. I loved my military career, but if I can get home safely to my family every night, I will take that every day.”
Racecard
6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m
8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m
9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m
10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
7.05pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Switzerland, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group 3 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Lord Giltters, Adrie de Vries, David O’Meara
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm Al Fahidi Fort Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Land Of Legends, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
10pm Dubai Dash Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner Equilateral, Frankie Dettori, Charles Hills.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
