Junior lightweight world titlist Tevin Farmer will continue his extraordinary run of activity with his fifth fight in 11 months.
Farmer will make his fourth defense when he takes on mandatory challenger Guillaume Frenois on July 27 (DAZN) at the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn made official on Monday.
The fight, in the offing for weeks, will be part of the show headlined by the world title unification bout between unbeaten junior welterweights Maurice Hooker and Jose Ramirez and the heavyweight debut of former unified cruiserweight world titlist Murat Gassiev against Joey Dawejko.
Farmer (29-4-1, 6 KOs), 28, of Philadelphia, won a vacant 130-pound world title by dominating decision against Billy Dib on Dib’s home turf in Australia last August before knocking out James Tennyson in the fifth round in October, cruising to a unanimous decision over Francisco Fonseca in December and doing the same against Jono Carroll in a Philly homecoming bout in March.
“July 27 will be the fourth defense of my world title in just under one year,” Farmer said. “There is no other world champion as active as me and I don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. I’m only 28 years old and I’m still learning and still improving each and every time I step in the ring.
“It is no secret that there are major fights out there for me in the division, but I need to take care of business first with Frenois, who has had a lot to say. July 27 is going to be my best performance yet.”
Frenois has called Farmer a “fake champion” and previously accused him of avoiding a fight with him.
Frenois (46-1-1, 12 KOs), 35, of France, fought a draw with Carroll in a title eliminator in December and now will get his first shot at a world title against the most notable opponent of his 13-year professional career.
“Frenois gave Jono a great fight when they battled to a draw last year and will come to Dallas full of ambition,” Hearn said. “Tevin has been America’s most active world champion over the last year and just needs to get past this test to land the big one in the fall.”
Hearn has pursued a unification fight for Farmer with Gervonta Davis. Farmer has also said he would be willing to move up to lightweight for a major fight.
Lou DiBella, who co-promotes Farmer with Hearn, said he was not surprised that Farmer is willing to fight so often.
“Tevin Farmer is a throwback warrior who believes that a true champion defends his title at every possible opportunity,” DiBella said. “Against Frenois, Tevin will be fighting his fifth world title fight in one year and will put an exclamation point on a historic 12-month run. With his mandatory obligation out of the way, the stage will be set for an even more historic next 12 months and beyond for Tevin.”
Hearn also announced additional undercard bouts led by welterweight Daniyar Yeleussinov (7-0, 3 KOs), 28, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist from Kazakhstan, who will have his first scheduled 10-round fight when he faces Oscar Cortes (27-4, 14 KOs), 26, of Mexico.
In another 10-round bout, featherweight Tramaine Williams (18-0, 6 KOs), 26, of New Haven, Connecticut, will meet Yenifel Vicente (35-3-2, 27 KOs), 33, of the Dominican Republic.
In addition, three more of Matchroom Boxing’s best prospects will also be in action against opponents to be determined: Austin “Ammo” Williams (2-0, 2 KOs), 23, of Houston; Toronto-based Arthur ‘The Chechen Wolf’ Biyarslanov (3-0, 3 KOs), 24; and middleweight “White Chocolate” Nikita Ababiy (5-0, 5 KOs), 20, of Brooklyn, New York.