William Zepeda and Tevin Farmer subject to VADA testing for rematch
Feb 16, 2025 • 12:59 PM ET
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association will preside over a comprehensive drug-testing program for the upcoming lightweight rematch between the unbeaten contender William Zepeda and former super-featherweight Tevin Farmer.
Zepeda’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya confirmed as much to BoxingScene, saying in a text message that “Zepeda will always comply with whatever testing is required”.
Following a tightly contested first meeting in Saudi Arabia in which Farmer questioned why he and Zepeda were not effectively tested for performance-enhancing substances, both sides have agreed to follow VADA procedures ahead of their rematch on March 29 in Cancun, Mexico.
Mexico’s Zepeda 32-0 (27 KOs) escaped with a split-decision victory (95-94, 94-95, 95-94) in November in Riyadh.
Because the bout was over 10 rounds for the WBC interim title, there was no obligation to subject the fighters to stringent testing, an official connected to the first bout explained.
At the time, Zepeda, 28, was ranked as the number-one contender by all four sanctioning bodies.
He’s therefore positioned to fight the WBC champion Shakur Stevenson should both win their upcoming bouts. The three-division champion Stevenson defends his title on Saturday in Riyadh against Zepeda’s Golden Boy Promotions stablemate, Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield.
The 34-year-old Farmer 33-7-1 (8 KOs) will again seek to rely on his crafty skill from a left-handed stance to frustrate the heavy-handed Zepeda.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
