Tevin Farmer Explains What Went Wrong
On January 30, 2020, at Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami, Florida, Tevin Farmer (30-5-1, 6 KOs) was defeated by Jo Jo Diaz (31-1, 15 KOs), subsequently losing the IBF Super Featherweight title. The result was considered an upset among many boxing pundits and observers.
Making the fifth defense of the title, Farmer struggled throughout, lacking his usual energy and fluidity. Known as a sharp-shooter with fast hands and feet, the 29-year-old from Philadelphia didn’t exhibit the form of his four previous world title defenses. Throughout the boat, Diaz would prove the more active and forceful fighter.
Ringside commentators Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora wondered aloud if something was wrong Farmer as he kept shaking his head and oddly blinking his eyes. His mannerisms seemed off and after the fight, his promoter Lou DiBella admitted the now ex-champ to a local hospital for observation.
After a series of tests including a CT scan, it turns out Farmer is OK and didn’t suffer any significant injuries. However, the question remains, why was Philly fighter not on his game? What was missing?
TAXING TRIALS
Some of it, of course, has to do with how well Diaz performed during the fight. However, the real cause for Farmer’s struggles during the bout could be the result of something he was dealing with before he even set foot in the ring.
On February 8, the man who calls himself “American Idol” revealed in a tweet that he was weak from getting down to the 130-pound super featherweight limit.
Mannix and Mora also talked about ongoing gossip of Farmer having weight issues. And Farmer’s February 8 tweet validates those rumors.
Then there’s the theory around the former champion’s heavy fighting schedule. As Diaz was his sixth fight in 17 months, its quite possible the activity finally caught up with him.
There is a rematch clause, so it’s highly likely that we will see Diaz – Farmer II. Farmer admits it’s “time to do things different”. The question now is, what changes will he truly make to turn things around? Time will have to tell. Ultimately we will see for sure when these two eventually run it back for a second time.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
