Mickey Bey is not giving up on his dream of winning another major title before finally calling it a career.
The next step for the former IBF lightweight beltholder is a ring return, as Bey faces Tevin Farmer in a pivotal battle of former titlists. Their scheduled ten-round lightweight bout takes place May 21 at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, relocated from the previously announced destination of Accra, Ghana due to Covid restrictions.
"Tevin and I plan to put on a great show,” Bey said of the previously announced but still unexpected non-title clash. “The winner is right back in the mix to fight for a world title.”
Bey (23-3-1, 11KOs) and Farmer (30-5-1, 6KOs) both fight for the first time since the pandemic, each coming off of a heartbreaking loss. Farmer has been out since a twelve-round loss to Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz to end his IBF junior lightweight title reign in January 2020, shortly after Bey came up just short in a ten-round, split decision defeat to George Kambosos Jr. in their December 2019 clash at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City.
Australia’s Kambosos (20-0, 10KOs) has since claimed the lineal/WBA/IBF/WBO lightweight championship following a twelve-round split decision win over Teofimo Lopez Jr. (16-1, 12KOs) last November 27 at MSG Hulu Theater. At the time, Bey was on the other side of the country training Devin Haney (27-0, 15KOs) for an eventual twelve-round win over Diaz to defend his WBC lightweight title last December 4 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Kambosos and Haney will meet June 4 in Melbourne, Australia (June 5 local time) for the undisputed championship. Bey—who held the IBF belt from September 2013 through June 2016—is hopeful of challenging the winner, whether a rematch with Kambosos or a showdown with his old client.
“This is my chance to show everyone that I am one of the best fighters in the world," vows Bey. "I would love to get my rematch with Kambosos Jr. one day and putting on a great performance against Tevin Farmer lays the groundwork for me to be able to get that fight in the future.
“I've been training hard and I'll be in the best shape of my career."
Farmer-Bey will air live on an independent pay-per-view, available for purchase at a suggested retail price of $34.99 via FarmerVsBeyPPV.com .
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
