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Tevin Farmer promises to punish Jono Carroll for making things “personal”


Tevin Farmer claims Jono Carroll should be thanking him not verbally attacking him after the Dubliner secured a St Patrick’s weekend IBF super featherweight world title shot.

‘King Kong’ and ‘The American Idol’ have have been involved in bitter social media spats for some time now and will finally sort their differences in the ring on Friday March 15th at the Liacouras Centre in Farmer’s hometown of Philadelphia.

Farmer is not fond of the constant chat from Carroll and the champion reckons the challenger should be showing love not loath toward him. 

The champion, who makes the third defence of the red belt, believes Carroll is trying to gain an advantage by getting under his skin but warns it’s to no avail.

Indeed he went as far as suggesting that the Matchroom southpaw is only embarrassing himself.

Farmer also warns the Dubliner he is stepping up to a whole new level and says he is going to punish the challenger for getting personal.

“He’s got a World title shot on St Patrick’s weekend, he should be thanking me,” said Farmer.

“He’s trying to get under my skin but it’s impossible to get under my skin. He’s making himself look bad and he’s stepping up to a whole different level with me. I’m A-level and he’s going to pay.”

Farmer didn’t like Carroll equating the pair’s upbringings and reasoned how “he says we both come from tough backgrounds, the hood, that boy hasn’t come from any struggle, no hood. I’m going to show him when he comes to Philly, he’s going to eat his words.”

“He’s trying to get his buzz up but there’s certain things that you don’t say. He’s made this personal and you don’t want to get personal with a Philly guy like me.”

Having become an early star of the DAZN over-the-top streaming platform, Farmer has been rewarded with a homecoming fight.

The 28-year-old southpaw slickster returns to his native Philadelphia for the first time as a world champion and is promising a great occasion.

Farmer outlined how “this is big for me, fighting as a World champion in Philly. When does Philly hold big World championship shows? This is big – it’s a boxing town but this is as big a show as there’s been here for a long time.”

“I have to thank Eddie, Lou and DAZN for making this a reality, because often World champions don’t always get the chance to fight in their home city. It doesn’t happen, but it’s happening for me and that shows the level of respect that Eddie, Lou and I have for each other.”

“It’s going to be a great night,” he added before discussing unification options.

The fighter who is constantly linked with WBA champ Gervonta Davis claimed that “I don’t care about these other champions.”

“You never know what is going to happen with politics and people making excuses, but I’m here, I defended the title twice in three months last year and I’m headlining at home.”

“If people really want to fight, it’s simple to do – sign the contract and turn up and fight.”

“The only thing I care about is my career, keep lining them up and I’m going to keep smoking them and keep getting paid. With or without them, my career will be the best of all those guys. I’m on a high right now.”

“Everything is good right now, I’m doing everything I’ve dreamed of.”

Farmer has worked with Eddie Hearn and the DAZN platform but is promoted by Lou DiBella and the ebullient fight boss is delighted to see his charge return to The City of Brotherly Love.

“It is only fitting that Tevin Farmer’s remarkable journey in boxing and in life comes back to his home city, Philadelphia,” said DiBella.

“In 2018, from Australia to Madison Square Garden, Tevin established himself as one of the brightest and most active stars in boxing.

“This is the homecoming Tevin deserves, and if Jono Carroll fights with the same fervor that he talks, it will also be a fight befitting of a city that has long been synonymous with all action wars.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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