Tevin Farmer lost the IBF junior lightweight title to Joseph Diaz Jr on Jan. 30 in Miami, but the 29-year-old Philly fighter is looking to get right back in as soon as he can, and try to regain that belt.
Diaz (31-1, 15 KO) has recently said he’d like to defend the title against someone else before doing a rematch with Farmer (30-5-1, 6 KO), and there’s been talk of the 27-year-old former Olympian fighting Abner Mares, who hasn’t fought since 2018 and maybe shouldn’t fight again, but is determined to do so. Of course, Diaz and Mares have also talked about doing it at the Staples Center, which is pretty removed from the reality of any situation right now.
Farmer, though, said in an appearance on The Ak & Barak Show that he is indeed planning on the rematch.
“I’m not worried about them. They’re just talking,” he said. “I just let them handle what they gotta handle, but when all this is over with, me and JoJo will be fighting again.”
As far as the reality of boxing right now, once fights get going again they’re going to be held behind closed doors. Some fighters seem fine with it, others — who may be more financially OK for the time being — are balking at the idea, such as Teofimo Lopez.
Farmer seems to be taking the situation as it is, and says it comes down to getting paid.
“Right now it’s gotta be about the family and to provide,” he said. “You can’t let ego not allow you to provide for your family. If you’re gonna get paid good money with no fans there, I don’t see a problem with it, to be honest.”