By Raymundo Dioses
Tevin Farmer and Kenichi Ogawa will face off on December 9, 2017 for the vacant junior lightweight IBF title at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The agreement avoided a purse bid as promoters for both fighters made a deal for the fight for the International Boxing Federation title that became vacant recently when Terence Crawford vacated the belt to move up to a higher weight division. Crawford had knocked out Julius Indongo in August 2017 for the IBF strap.
Farmer, (25-4-1, 5KO) is from the fighting city of Philadelphia. Ogawa (22-1, 17KO) resides in Tokyo, Japan. Both fighters will be contesting for a major world title for the first time. Farmer, who hasn’t registered a loss since 2012, was recently shot in the right hand at a family event but is recovered and ready for a title shot.
“This is truly a blessed Thanksgiving for me. From tearing my biceps in the second round against Ivan Redkach on April 29 to thankfully recovering from the gunshot wound to my right hand to now fighting for my first world title, I have so much to be thankful for,” said Farmer.
“I’m excited to spend the holiday with my family. They all want to talk about the fight and many of them will be in Las Vegas.”