David Benavidez has no shortage of HUGE fights on his radar. In an exclusive interview with BoxingScene, Jose Benavidez Sr. makes it clear that David still wants the biggest names at 175lbs including Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev. Benavidez has previously said those are two fights he wants to make as he pursues more titles and major challenges. But there’s another name that could make things very interesting: Andy Ruiz Jr. Jose discusses the possibility of an all-Mexican showdown between Benavidez and the former heavyweight champion, along with David’s plans across multiple divisions. And with a potential Jai Opetaia showdown also building after the pair came face-to-face following Opetaia’s latest victory, Benavidez has some massive options ahead.
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By Jake Donovan
Tevin Farmer’s next title defense has a home and will not fall at the mercy of a purse bid.
The born and bred Philadelphia (Penn.) southpaw is set for the fourth defense of the super featherweight title he claimed just last August, as he will face France’s Guillaume Frenois. The bout will take place July 27 at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, in supporting capacity to a unification bout between unbeaten 140-pound titlists Jose Carlos Ramirez and local favorite Maurice Hooker.
Two members within Farmer’s camp confirmed news of the date and location to BoxingScene.com on Friday.
While not yet formally announced, both sides came to an agreement in avoiding a twice-postponed purse bid hearing which the International Boxing Federation (IBF) initially ordered in late April but have officially canceled. The development makes it the third significant bout marked for this show, which will also include the heavyweight and DAZN debut of former cruiserweight titlist Murat Gassiev who faces Farmer's fellow Philly pug Joey Dawejko.
Farmer (29-4-1, 6KOs) claimed the 130-pound title on his second try, soundly outpointing Billy Dib on the road in Australia last August. The win came eight months after his flat out being robbed of the title in a horrifically scored split decision defeat to Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa in Dec. 2017.
Justice was served when a dirty drug test produced by Ogawa negated the official result, changing the outcome to a No-Contest and thus keeping alive Farmer’s unbeaten streak which dates all the way back to an 8th round stoppage loss to then-undefeated prospect Jose Pedraza in Oct. 2012.
That loss put his early ring mark at a dismal 7-4-1 but has since emerged as a major player in the 130-pound division. Long promoted by Lou DiBella, the streaking southpaw—who will turn just 29 shortly after his next fight in late July—entered a co-promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and sports srteaming platform DAZN, which has housed his last three fights and will also stream this bout as well.
Among the lot was his most recent start , a homecoming win over Ireland’s Jono Carroll this past March at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. Farmer posted a 12-round decision for his fourth title fight win in a span of just over eight months. His forthcoming title defense gives him five title fights in 51 weeks.
Of course, helping him get there is a level of opposition which ranks as average on any given scale, and something far below that given the stakes. Carroll made his way to a title fight through a 12-round draw last December with Frenois (46-1-1, 12KOs), who really can’t claim anything better of significance in landing a mandatory title fight.
The 35-year old from France is 15-0-1 since his lone career defeat, dropping a 12-round decision to Devis Boscheiro in their Sept. 2013 European 130-pound title fight on the road in Italy. His most notable win since then—and of his career as a whole—came in March 2017, scoring a 12-round decision over fringe contender Vyacheslav Gusev.
There is a case to be made that he deserved the nod in his draw with Carroll last December, which remains his last ring appearance ahead of his first career title fight. It will also mark his U.S. debut and seventh fight overall outside of his native France.
As for Farmer, the timing of the fight is good news for those who hold out hope for the Philly native to land a unification bout. Longtime divisional rival Gervonta Davis will also put his 130-pound strap on the line the same night, as the unbeaten southpaw will fight in his Baltimore (Md.) hometown in a mandatory title defense versus Panama’s Ricardo Nuñez.
Davis is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and fights under adviser Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner, which leaves him loyal to Showtime (who will present his next fight) and Fox Sports. Farmer’s fight versus Frenois will mark the end of his contractual commitment to DAZN, although the platform has provided him with more money under his current pact than he’s made in his entire career to that point.
At the very least, there is reason to pay close attention to both 130-pound title fights—even if more so for the aftermath than what will take place in either of the July 27 bouts.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
