WBC Interim Lightweight Champion William Zepeda and Tevin Farmer are finalizing negotiations for a rematch on March 29 in Cancun, Mexico.
Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) is getting a rematch from a 10-round split decision loss to Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) on Nov. 16 in Riyadh on the Latino Night card.
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Tevin later complained bitterly that he should have been given the decision. It didn’t seem like it, but it’s understandable why he would be unhappy. Now he gets another payout, but his chances of winning the rematch are non-existent.
Results
95-94 – Zepeda
95-94 – Farmer
95-94 – Farmer
Some boxing fans saw it as a controversial decision, as they felt that Farmer, 34, deserved to win. Farmer scored a knockdown in the fourth round, mostly with headbutts.
“They are close to finalizing a rematch between William Zepeda and Tevin Farmer on March 29 in Cancun.” The fight will now go 12 rounds for the interim lightweight championship (for the WBC),” said Salvador Rodriguez. Ks.
Zepeda focused almost entirely on Farmer’s body, nailing him with powerful punches that should have easily resulted in a wide decision win.
The scoring reflected what this group of judges felt was important to them. Many would score for Zepeda based on his punishing body. It wasn’t close.
I had 9-1 for Zepeda. Farmer won the fourth due to a quick knockdown from Zepeda, but other than that round, it was one-sided. Zepeda pounded Farmer’s body in every round of the fight and made him look worn down by the eighth round.
Farmer had the same look on him as Zepeda’s other opponents when they took too much punishment and had to be retired for their own good. It was brave of Farmer to hang in there, but he hasn’t been competitive since the eighth round. It was hard to watch the old veteran get beaten like that.
Former IBF light heavyweight champion Tevin went and was the equivalent of a punching bag for the last three rounds. Had this been a 12-round fight, Farmer would have been knocked out as he absorbed tremendous punishment in the final two rounds.
It was similar when Farmer fought Raymond Muratala on July 13, 2024. Farmer was competitive for seven rounds, but was battered from the eighth round onwards and was lucky to see the final bell.
In the last two rounds, Zepeda landed 100+ punches per round and Farmer looked like a victim in the making. Surprisingly, the judges had this discrepancy. A rematch isn’t necessary, but it would appease fans who felt Farmer had been robbed.
Zepeda needs to win this fight and look good to mount a title challenge against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, provided he wins his bout against Floyd Schofield on February 22nd.