Fresh off a post-fight vacation in Zanzibar, Tevin Farmer returned to the US with plenty of thoughts — and no shortage of swagger.
The former junior-lightweight titleholder narrowly lost a split decision to William Zepeda in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the performance only solidified his status as a top lightweight.
Farmer, 31-6-1 (6 KOs), pushed the undefeated Zepeda, 32-0 (27 KOs), to the brink in their WBC interim lightweight title bout, dropping him with a picture-perfect left hand in the fourth round. Despite the knockdown and his valiant efforts, Farmer fell short on two of the three judges’ scorecards by two scores of 95-94 that complemented the one tally in his favor.
“I loved fighting in Saudi Arabia,” said Farmer, a great-great-nephew of the great Joe Gans. “It was my second time fighting abroad, and everyone treated me well. Yes, I thought I won, but overall it was an amazing experience.”
Farmer’s preparations for that fight reflected his adaptability and in-ring intelligence.
“Zepeda’s team expected me to be a boxer, so I switched it up,” he said. “Zepeda is an aggressive volume puncher, and you can’t let fighters like that apply the pressure. You have to be the bully, the one pressing forward and initiating the action. I’m a helluva fighter on the inside; I just never had to bring it out like that before.”
The fight’s lone knockdown came in the fourth round, when Farmer showcased his timing and accuracy.
“I saw Zepeda throwing a lazy jab early on, but he was watching me,” he explained. “In round four, I threw a combination, and the second he came back with that lazy jab, I reacted with my straight left. Four of my last five opponents have hit the canvas, and that now includes the number-one contender at lightweight. I fought a guy who was 31-0 with 27 knockouts, and he gets dropped by a fighter supposedly with no power.”
Four months earlier Farmer lost another close decision, to the unbeaten lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla in Las Vegas. Despite those setbacks, he remains undeterred.
“The Muratalla fight showed me I still have it and can beat these young boys,” Farmer said. “My performance against Zepeda proved the same. I’m ready for anyone.”
Lou DiBella, Farmer’s promoter, was vocal in his praise. “Put respect on Tevin Farmer’s name. He went toe-to-toe with the universal number-one lightweight contender and scored the fight’s only knockdown. Tevin belongs at the top of the division and will win a big fight again.”
Farmer, too, is eager for another big opportunity. “I do want the rematch — an immediate rematch if I had my way. If not Zepeda, let’s do another big fight. My performance showed the world that Tevin Farmer is a top fighter and he’s dangerous.”
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