By Jake Donovan

PHILADELPHIA--Tevin Farmer capped a four-win 2016 in-ring campaign with a 10-round decision victory over Kosovo's Dardan Zenunaj.

Scores were 99-91 (twice) and 98-92 in favor of Farmer in a showcase main event Friday evening at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It wasn't as easy as Farmer made it look for much of the night, particularly due to the manner in which he was forced to proceed with the bout.

"I injured my hand before the fight," Farmer (24-4-1, 5KOs) revealed to BoxingScene.com after the fight. "But you know what - we all gotta overcome adversity at some point. So I figured this be the best opportunity to do so. I wanted to use my left hand more, I really think I'd have gotten the knockout if I could've used it more. But I did a lot of things I like, a few things I need to work on." 

Zenunaj (12-3, 9KOs) came to fight and did his best to push the house favorite to the brink. It was a different level in class, however, as Farmer made a point to have fun in the ring. A dominant round two transitioned into a showcase performance for the resurgent super featherweight contender, who has now won 17 straight fights dating back to 2012. 

There were moments where Farmer chose to fight on the inside, thus allowing Zenunaj to steal a couple of rounds on two of the three official scorecards (and one on the third card). However, momentum largely flowed in the direction of the Philly-proud boxer for whom the crowd came to see in action. 

"I pushed hard to get this fourth fight in 2016 and to fight in my hometown," Farmer noted. "I had to make a point to give the fans an entertaining fight. I think I accomplished that." 

In doing so, he completes a breakout campaign that saw his career - and contender level - soar to new heights. Chief among his quartet of victories was a rousing 10-round schooling of Ivan Redkach this past July in Brooklyn, New York. The bout aired live on Showtime's SHO Extreme as a lead-in to the Fight of the Year-level war that saw Carl Frampton snatch the "0" from Leo Santa Cruz to win a featherweight title. 

Farmer would love nothing more than to snatch the "0" from Pedraza, the last man to hang a loss on his career. That moment came in 2012 when both were still on the prospect level, with Pedraza moving on to capture a major title at super featherweight. His second defense comes in January versus Gervonta Davis. 

Naturally, Farmer and his team would love a shot at the winner - especially a chance for redemption versus Pedraza as both have grown since their Oct. '12. If not, then anyone with a super featherweight belt (other than his stable mate and WBA "Regular" champ Jason Sosa) will do. 

"Me and Jason, we gonna lock this division down," Farmer insisted. "Jason gonna go get (Jezreel) Corrales and he can have (WBC titlist) Francisco Vargas. I'll take care of Pedraza and Vasyl Lomachenko, There goes our 2017 (campaigns). By end of year, we gonna have all them belts." 

UNDERCARD

Garrett Wilson ended a two-fight skid with a hard-fought, six-round majority decision win over Lamont Capers (7-9-2, 0KOs). Scores of 58-56 (twice) overruled a 57-57 tally to give Wilson (17-11-1, 9KOs) his first win since last October.

Joseph Adorno ended a time-capsule week with a 1st round knockout of  Guy Newnam in his pro debut.  The 17-year old from Allentown - who signed with promotional powerhouse Top Rank earlier this week - scored two knockdowns in forcing the stoppage at 1:32 of round one.

Marcel Rivers made North Philly proud in his pro debut, scoring a 1st round knockout over fellow debutant,  Queens-based Tony Kim. A hailstorm of punches prompted the stoppage at 0:41 of round one.

The fight of the night also provided the evening's biggest upset as Roque Zapata gutted out a four-round majority decision over local super welterweight Isaiah Wise.

Julie Lederman's dead-on accurate card of 38-38 was overruled by scores of 39-37 and 40-36 for Zapata (2-1-3, 1KO). The fight was a savage war from beginning to end, with Zapata's heavier blows ultimately rewarded over the volume punching of Wise (3-1, 2KOs), whose entire young career has taken place at this venue.

Former amateur standout Victor Padilla has waited two years for his pro debut, with the 18-year old from Puerto Rico making the most of the moment with a 2nd round stoppage of Kimmy St. Pierre. 

An assortment of punches proved to be too much for Quebec's St. Pierrer (1-3, 1KO) to handle, as referee Benji Estevez mercifully halted the contest, Other than an errant punch to the hip that draw a warning, it was a near-flawless performance from Padilla (1-0, 1KO), whose handlers are already loading up a busy and ambitious schedule for 2017.

Brooklyn-based Iegor Plevako spoiled the pro debut of North Philadelphia's Montrell Castro, scoring a convincing 2nd round stoppage in their four-round heavyweight affair.

Plevako (5-2 according to Fight Fax, 2-0, 1KO according to BoxRec.com) scored a knockdown late in round one when the referee determined the ropes broke the fall for Castro (0-1). Plevako applied pressure for as long as round two lasted before it was determined that Castro could no longer defend himself, the stoppage coming at 0:31 of round two.

Jose Gonzalez opened the show with a four-round unanimous decision over Tim Ibarra. Scores were 40-36 (twice) and 39-37 in what was slated as a super bantamweight affair, only for Gonzalez to miss by - and refuse to shed - 0.4 lbs. He made up for it with a strong showing against a determined Ibarra (4-4, 1KO), who returns to Denver knowing he pushed his opponent every step of the way. 

With the win, the 20-year old Gonzalez - who hails from Harlem, NY - improves to 6-0-1 (2KOs).

FULL CARD LINEUP

Tevin Farmer UD10 (99-91 2x, 98-92) Dardan Zenunaj - super featherweight

Garrett Wilson MD6 (58-56 2x, 57-57) Lamont Capers - cruiserweight

Joseph Adorno KO1 (1:32) Guy Newnam - super featherweight

Marcel Rivers KO1 (0:41) Tony Kim - 4 rds, super welterweight

Roque Zapata MD4 (40-36, 39-37, 38-38) Isaiah Wise vs. Roque Zapata - super welterweight

Victor Padilla KO2 (0:59) Kimmy St Pierre - lightweight

Iegor Plevako KO2 (0:31) Montrell Castro - heavyweight

Jose Gonzalez UD4 (40-36 2x, 39-37) Tim Ibarra - super bantamweight

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2