Tevin Farmer Calls for a Rematch with Kenichi Ogawa
Former IBF junior lightweight champion Tevin “American Idol” Farmer (30-5-1, 6ko) is ready to climb back into the ring. For his return, he would like a chance at redemption by reclaiming his title in a rematch with current IBF champion Kenichi Ogawa (26-1-1, 18ko).
THE BACKSTORY
Farmer was last in the ring almost two years ago after losing the title to Joseph “Jojo” Diaz in January 2020. During an interview with 3kingsboxing, Farmer talked about how someone on his team dropped the ball, which screwed him out of getting a rematch.
“The rematch clause was supposed to have taken place five months after the fight. So to make a long story short, COVID happened. Therefore, nobody was having fights. I got fucked over.”
Diaz is now competing in the lightweight division after losing the belt on the scale against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov on February 13. The fight was declared a draw, leaving the belt vacant for the eventual Kenichi Ogawa vs Azinga Fuzile battle.
A RENEWED RIVALRY
Although getting the rematch with Diaz has passed, there is a silver lining for the Philadelphia fighter as a fight for the title and rematch with Ogawa could be on the horizon. These two fighters’ paths crossed in 2017 when they locked horns in an attempt to crown a new champion.
The Japanese fighter was declared the winner until news broke of a failed drug test. Ogawa would test positive for a synthetic testosterone. Immediately, he got stripped of the belt and the fight was changed to a no contest. This led to the Ogawa being inactive a little over a year in trying to settle the controversy.
Ogawa would eventually his way back into the title picture. Since the layoff, he went 3-0-1 and his reward was another opportunity to fight for the vacant title against Fuzile. The Ogawa was highly motivated and was declared the victor after beating up Fuzile for twelve rounds.
Meanwhile, Farmer was given another opportunity eight months after losing to Ogawa when the IBF placed him in a fight with former featherweight champ Billy Dib for the vacant title in August 2018. This time the Philadelphia fighter walked away with the title and had four successful defenses before facing Diaz.
Currently ranked #7 by the IBF, Farmer quickly took to social media and called out the champion while taking a shot at his past.
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By: Garrisson Bland
