By Ben Jacobs
In what could be one of the most memorable boxing comeback stories in recent years, Philadelphia’s Tevin Farmer (25-4-1, 5 KOs) has the opportunity to win his first world title just months after suffering a gunshot wound to one of his hands.
Back in July, Farmer was the victim of a shooting which he has thankfully recovered from and is now looking to end the year on a high note when he fights Japan’s Kenichi Ogawa (22-1, 17 KOs) on December 9 for the vacant IBF world title.
“My recovery is going real good, I’ve still got six weeks to the fight and we’re looking real good,” Farmer told BoxingScene this week.
“I’m happy as hell there’s no long term damage. I had a torn bicep as well back in May for which I had surgery and then in July I got shot, so if I win a world title in December it will be major. Originally I was going to be back in September.
Tevin concedes he doesn’t know much about his next opponent besides his reputation for being a big puncher.
“I watched this guy for a few rounds about a month ago, but I had never heard of him. He’s got a lot of knockouts but having knockouts in Japan and knockouts in the United States are totally different. They say the fight might be in Las Vegas but there’s nothing concrete on that yet. I’m training in New Jersey as usual.
“A lot of these guys are supposed to be big punchers but they don’t feel that way to me. Ivan Redkach was 19-1 with 15 knockouts and that power didn’t feel like anything. These guys are supposed to be big punchers but it all depends on who you face. How often do you see a guy knock out an elite fighter? Sure, they knock out guys they are supposed to but it’s different at the elite level.”
Farmer recently engaged in a Twitter back and forth with former IBF champion Gervonta Davis who had to relinquish the belt due to being unable to make weight for his last contest against Francisco Fonseca.
“Everybody’s enjoying my Twitter stuff with Gervonta Davis, you’ve just got to be disciplined, man. In his last fight I think the guy wasn’t that great, I just think Gervonta didn’t show up, he wasn’t focused, but it was the big stage on PPV. I don’t like speaking on him too much like that. He had his shot and he blew it but he will be back. I just know on December 9 I’ll be ready, on HBO.”
