Weeknights used to be all right for boxing.
Until they weren’t.
Oh, sure, we still have plenty of prospect shows dotted throughout the week. In 2020, there is some piece of content seemingly every day of every week. A trio of major title fights though?
That’s something fans in the United States have come to largely accept as a Saturday affair. It wasn’t always like this. Weekends always mattered, especially under the television lights, but there was more variety. Gradually, as premium cable took over the landscape, big time boxing receded from even Friday nights.
The streaming era is going to inherently create more options. We’re already getting access to overseas cards on weekdays we never would have seen a generation ago. Thursday’s DAZN outing (7 PM EST), bolstered in part by a celebrity boxing match on the card, would be of quality any night of the week.
That it could provide some gems to take into conversation on Friday at the ‘water cooler’ is all the better. Arguably the most interesting of the three title fights comes in the Jr. lightweight division between a fighter who learned his trade for pay and a fighter with the amatuer credentials to call himself an Olympian.
The trash talk (and tweets) have flown. Will the leather?
Let’s get into it.
Stats and Stakes
Tevin Farmer
Age: 29
Title: IBF Jr. lightweight (2018-Present, 4 Defenses)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’6
Weight: 130 lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Record: 30-4-1, 6 KO, 2 KOBY
Rankings: #2 (Ring, ESPN), #3 (Boxing Monthly), #4 (TBRB), #7 (BoxRec)
Record in Title Fights: 5-0, 1 KO, 1 NO Contest
Last Five Opponents: 150-8-3 (.941)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Jose Pedraza TKO by 8, Billy Dib UD12
Vs.
Joseph Diaz
Age: 27
Titles/Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’6
Weight: 129 ¾ lbs.
Stance: Southpaw
Hails from: Downey, California
Record: 30-1, 15 KO
Press Rankings: #4 (Ring, Boxing Monthly), #8 (TBRB, ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 0-1 (1-1 including WBA sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 118-14-3 (.885)
Current/Former World Champions Faced: KO3 Victor Terrazas, L12 Gary Russell Jr.
The Case for Farmer: In this clash of southpaws, it is Farmer who brings the more fluid and consistent jab. He brings that stick from the right side with a few a reach advantage and quick feet that often keep him just outside an opponent’s ability to retaliate. Farmer has good head movement, patience, and is an educated body puncher at range and on the inside. If he can use his jab to make Diaz follow him, and keep the challenger from being sure when to let his hands go, Farmer has the ability to frustrate Diaz, particularly in the early rounds. If Farmer can build a lead, it makes it easier for him to box and resist engagement as the fight wears on.
The Case for Diaz: Farmer might be quicker than Diaz but Diaz has seen speed before. It’s hard to find a faster pair of hands in the game than Russell’s and Diaz competed hard from start to finish in that fight. Farmer is good body puncher. Diaz is a better one. Against Russell, Diaz had to adjust as the fight wore on to punch when Russell was punching to have a chance. He will have to do the same thing here and stay aggressive. If the fight becomes a chess match, can the judges be swayed by the man who comes forward? It’s not an uncommon thing in boxing. Diaz has to be willing to miss a few to land at the end of combinations. Sheer activity could be big in this match.
The Pick: This is a fascinating fight. Farmer hasn’t lost in over seven years. Diaz has only lost to arguably the best active featherweight in the world. It may not be the best action fight on the card (that could come at Jr. featherweight) but on paper it’s the most notable clash of divisional top ten fighters. Farmer hasn’t faced anyone as polished as Diaz since winning a belt but Diaz arguably hasn’t seen anyone capable of boxing him from as many different approaches. It’s going to be testy in spots, and contemplative in others, with some hellacious rib work to appreciate. In the end, the thinking here is Diaz outworks Farmer enough and lands enough coming forward to eek out a decision likely to stir debate.
Rold Picks Total for 2019: 73-20
Rold Picks 2020: 0-0
Additional Picks
Danny Roman Dec Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Demetrius Andrade TKO Luke Keeler
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com