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IBF junior lightweight
champion Tevin Farmer, 28-4-1, 6 KOs, will defend his title
for the third time in a homecoming fight against Ireland’s
Jono Carroll, 16-0-1, 3 KOs, at the Liacouras Center, on
Temple University’s North Philly campus on March 15.
Promoter Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing officially
announced the fight at a lively press conference at Spin in
Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon. The title fight tops a
star-studded card that will be streamed live on DAZN. “We’re here in
Philadelphia, and we are delighted to be in the Liacouras
Center, March 15th, St. Patrick’s Day weekend, live on DAZN,
for our first show in Philadelphia,” promoter Eddie Hearn
said to the large crowd gathered for the press conference.
“We’re here, really, for many reasons. Number one, of
course, is because of your very own Tevin Farmer, but also
because we have so many other great fights on the card as
well.” The supporting cast for
the show is loaded with boxing talent. In the co-feature,
Ireland’s Katy Taylor, 12-0, 5 KOs, will meet Brazilian Rose
Volante, 14-0, 8 KOs, in a 12-rounder for the IBF, WBA and
WBO women’s lightweight title. Taylor was present for the
presser and quietly addressed the crowd. “It’s great to be
here in Philadelphia,” Taylor said. “It’s a great fighting
city.” Also on the card, is
one of Philly’s favorite fighting sons, Gabriel Rosado,
24-11-1, 14 KOs. He will fight at home for the first time
since 2012 when he faces Poland’s Maciej Sulecki, 27-1, 11
KOs, in a tough 10-round middleweight bout. Rosado was
present for the press conference, but his opponent was not.
Perhaps the tastiest
bout of the entire card is a the 10-round lightweight,
all-Philly showdown between veteran Hank Lundy, 29-7-1, 14
KOs, and promising upstart Avery Sparrow, 9-1, 3 KOs. The
crosstown rivals engaged in a heated verbal exchange and a
prickly stare-down. Both appeared confident and raring to
go for the fight. Farmer and Carroll
verbally sparred before, during, and after the press
conference, with both guaranteeing victory in the scheduled
12-rounder. Farmer arrived early on Tuesday and calmly made
his rounds, talking to all of his supporters. However, when
Carroll breezed in, just before the press conference began,
the two went right at each other for a little shout down.
The promoters pulled them apart and the press conference got
underway. “I’m going to beat you
up,” Farmer said to Carroll when it was his turn to speak.
“I just got done beating your cousin… James Tennyson (Farmer
KO’d another Irishman in October). After I beat you up,
then I’m going to take you out for a cheese steak.” Carroll spoke before
Farmer, and began calmly and confidently. “This is
America,” Carroll said. “This is the place dreams are made
of. So to me, this is amazing. I want to thank everyone
from Philly. I love this town because this is going to be
the place where I win my world title. So, this place is
going to be history in my family.” “I’m grateful to be here today, Carroll continued. “I don’t care what this little pea brain has to say. Something keeps dragging me toward boxing. I keep getting these fights, and I keep winning these fights. So, on March 15th, I’m going to take that belt, and Tevin Farmer’s not going to know what hit him. He hasn’t been hit before. So, we’re going to see what happens. And listen, if he beats me, I’ll take my hat off to him, and say he’s a great man, because it’s going to take a great man to beat me.” Tickets for the seven-bout card are available now, and based on the line-up and this press conference, should start selling fast. |
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