Herrick made a living as a light and welterweight boxer from 1909-20, prior to his career in movies. A portion of his boxing career took place in Mexico and Panama City, Panama. In Panama City, he once met Kid Norfolk, a Hall of Fame boxer, who later took the Colored World Light Heavyweight Championship. He fought "Steamboat" Bill Scott four times, both in Panama City, and in New Orleans, Louisiana. Herrick acted in several boxing themed movies during his career, as he had plenty of real life experience as a boxer. A number of ex-boxers who worked in movies went uncredited, but Herrick was credited in several movies in which he appeared, though he had small parts.