Two days before an exciting night of boxing at the Liacouras Center at Temple University, the media gathered for the official press conference of a stacked card headlined by IBF World Super Featherweight Titlist Tevin Farmer defending his belt in his hometown against undefeated Jono Carroll of Ireland. The action-packed event will also feature IBF & WBA World Female Lightweight Titlist Katie Taylor in a unification bout against the WBO World Female Lightweight Titlist Rose Volante, Philly’s Gabriel Rosado will go up against Maciej Sulecki in a middleweight tilt, and two Philadelphia natives, Hank Lundy and Avery Sparrow, will face off in a lightweight bout in front of their hometown crowd. The fighters took the stage to discuss their preparation and predictions before entering the ring on Friday night, live on DAZN.
Tevin Farmer
“Making weight is not easy so apologies for being late. I am looking forward to Friday. I am coming to get it popping. This is my third defense in five months. We prepared very well, as always. It’s a blessing to be here in Philadelphia after 16 years without a champion defending their belts here. For me to be the one to bring it back, it’s amazing. I have been fighting on the road a lot lately. Thank you to everyone believing in me. Jono will be ready, I know that. But I work hard and he knows these things too. I am tired of rolling over these guys easy so I hope he brings it.”
Jono Carroll
“I want to say a thank you to Philadelphia for having me here. Thanks to Matchroom and DAZN. This is a real Rocky story. I have been steadily climbing up the ranks thanks to everyone in my career. This is many people helping me but at the same time, I have dedicated my life to the sport. From 15 on, it’s been boxing. I truly enjoy every minute. Sometimes I look arrogant or cocky, but it’s just me enjoying myself. I have really enjoyed my time in Philadelphia. I went to the Rocky steps and I have been taking it all in. I had an amazing camp, great sparring and no injuries thankfully. Tevin has defended his title a couple of times in a row and I know he is going to be sharp. It’s a tough mountain to climb but I think I can do it. I said I was going to win the title off an American and now I hope I can go back to Ireland with Katie Taylor, with both of us as champions.”
Katie Taylor
“Thank you so much everyone for the opportunity. It’s great to be in Philadelphia and part of this rich history. I had a great training camp and I am looking forward to a big challenge. You will see the best of women’s boxing on Friday night.”
Rose Volante
“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to be here in Philadelphia. I am looking forward to accomplishing my dream of unifying the titles on Friday night. We will finally see who the best lightweight in the female division is.”
Maciej Sulecki
“Thank you to Matchroom and DAZN. I promise I won’t let you down. I had a great ten week camp. I am ready and I hope you will be ready too. I am ready for a crazy fight and I can’t wait.”
Gabriel Rosado
“We had a great camp. I think you will see the best of Gabe Rosado on Friday. We have a lot of momentum from that first training camp in November. There’s nothing I haven’t seen. I have fought the best. The experience will kick in for me. But thing is, this fight is in Philadelphia and I am going to turn up extra hard. I want to stop him. I want to knock this man out. It’s going to a war and it’s going to be real nasty. Like Eddie said, call out sick, call out from work. Let’s go Philly.”
IBF World Super-Featherweight champion Tevin Farmer has told the other champions at 126lbs to ‘put up or shut up’ ahead of his title defense against Jono Carroll on Friday night (March 15) at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.
Farmer defends his crown for the third time inside five months as he fights at home in Philly for the first time as a World champion, and as fight week kicked off with the media work out today, the champion had to field more questions over a future unification bout with Gervonta Davis.
Farmer has long wanted to face the WBA Super champion from Baltimore in what we be a mega showdown – but it’s a fight that is in the distance rather than a reality – and Farmer has grown tired of talking about fights that aren’t happening as he remains one of the most active World rulers in the game.
“Everybody is talking about who the best is in the division – there’s only one way to tell,” said Farmer. “I am ready to fight anyone. My promoters Eddie Hearn and Lou DiBella are ready to make a fight with anyone so whomever has a belt out there – it’s time to put up or shut up.
“It’s my third defense in five months, I’m the most active male World champion in the world and I want it to continue like that. I like working with Eddie, Lou and DAZN and I hope that we can keep doing business for the rest of my career.
“I’m fighting more than anyone and I’m winning. I’ve probably defended my title more times since winning it than some champions that have had the belt for two years.”
Farmer’s clash with Carroll is part of a huge night of action in Philadelphia as Irish sensation Katie Taylor (12-0 5 KOs) looks to unify the Lightweight division once again, putting her IBF and WBA straps on the line against Brazil’s WBO champion Rose Volante (14-0 8 KOs).
Philadelphia Middleweight warrior Gabriel Rosado (24-11-1 14 KOs) faces Poland’s Maciej Sulecki (27-1 11 KOs) for the WBO International title and a likely World title shot at Demetrius Andrade, Philly Lightweight’s Hank Lundy (29-7-1 14 KOs) and Avery Sparrow (9-1 3 KOs) battle for local pride, Olympic gold medal pair Luke Campbell MBE (19-2 15 KOs) and Daniyar Yeleussinov (5-0 3 KOs) and silver medalist John Joe Nevin (11-0 4 KOs) taste their first action of 2019, unbeaten Super-Middleweight D’Mitrius Ballard (19-0 12 KOs) faces Victor Fonseca (17-9-1 14 KOs) while exciting New Jersey amateur star Raymond Ford makes his pro debut.