With the only world champion from Philly being IBF World Super Featherweight Champion Tevin “American Idol” Farmer he is bringing the belt back home in the main event at the Liacouras Center on the Temple University Campus Friday night in one of the best cards in memory Philly with 80 rounds scheduled.
As one of the promoters from the UK Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing said today at the press conference “there are four Olympic Gold Medalists on this card.” That in itself has to be a first. Being its St. Patrick’s Day weekend there will be four boxers from Ireland on the card and they can all fight. Take my word for it.
In the main event Farmer, 28-4-1 (6), who hasn’t lost since 2012 and is on a twenty-one fight winning streak including a NC, will be facing another southpaw. Jono “Celtic Warrior” Jono Carroll 16-0-1 (3), will be the other main event fighter who is from Dublin, Ireland. In his last fight he drew with a French opponent who was 41-1, this past December. Both fighters have come through life the hard way and that is what will be expected Friday who leaves with the belt. This is Farmer’s third defense in five months which is incredible. His promoter is part of the show in Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment.
The co-feature will have 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Taylor, 12-0 (5), from Bray, Ireland, who holds both the IBF World and WBA World Female Lightweight Titles. She is the pride and joy of her country. This will be her sixth US bout. This being a unification bout the WBO World Female Champion Rose “The Queen” Volante, 14-0 (8), of Sao Paulo, Brazil, will be in the other corner that night looking to unify as well as Taylor.
The always popular Philly middleweight “King” Gabe Rosado, 24-11-1 (14), ranked No. 14 in the WBC is coming off a controversial draw that he should have been declared the winner. He will face Maciel “Striczu” Sulecki, 27-1 (11), from Warsaw, POL, ranked No. 6 in the WBO and No. 8 in the WBA. This will be his seventh US appearance with his only loss coming to current IBF World Middleweight Champion Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs by decision in New York.
In an all Philly lightweight match that one of the event’s promoter’s IBHOF promoter J Russell Peltz, of Peltz Boxing spoke of today would be a main event anywhere in Philly. It features Avery Sparrow, 9-1 (3), whose victory over Jose “Wonder Boy” Lopez, then 19-1-1, in November of 2017 propelled Sparrow into the world ratings. Unfortunately he only had one bout in 2018 and that being last March will be returning to the ring and looks to be in great shape. His opponent is former world ranked “Hammerin” Hank Lundy, 29-7-1 (14), who has fought in thirteen bouts where a belt was on the line including his last fight for the WBC Silver Title in Russia last September losing a decision. Not out of character in the face off Lundy poked Sparrow in the face. This will add fuel to the fire in this one. Peltz along with Matchroom’s Eric Bottjer will be matchmakers.
Super Middleweight D’Mitrius “Big Meech” Ballard, 19-2 (12), of temple Hills, MD, will face Victor “Sina” Fonseca, 17-9-1 (14), who had an eight winning streak broken in his last fight. 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist lightweight southpaw Luke Campbell, 19-2 (15), of Yorkshire, UK, who in his last bout reversed one of his losses will be opposed by Adrian “Chinito” Young, 26-5-2 (2), of Sinaloa, Mexico.
2016 Olympic Gold Medalist welterweight southpaw Danivar “Kazakh Thunder” Yeleussinov, 5-0 (3), of KAZ, living in Brooklyn, NY, faces Silverio Ortiz, 37-3 (18), of Yucatan, MEX. 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist lightweight John Joe Nevin, 11-0 (4), of Mullingar, Ireland, takes on Andres Figueroa, 9-3 (5), of Bogota, COL. In the show opener southpaw Raymond “Savage” Ford of Camden, NJ, makes his debut against Weusi Johnson, 3-10, of Wilmington, DE.
Show will be over DAZN (the Zone) starting at 5pm est.