By Dean Berman: Promoter Lou DiBella reports that Tevin Farmer has been released from Jackson Memorial Hospital after receiving a CAT scan following his disappointing 12 round unanimous decision loss to Joseph ‘Jo Jo’ Diaz Jr. last Thursday night at the Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami.
Farmer (30-5-1, 6 KOs) lost his IBF super featherweight title to Diaz Jr. (31-1, 15 KOs). DiBella states that the results of Farmer’s CAT scan were normal, which is a huge sigh relief for fans. Farmer has a lot of talent, and a long future seemingly still ahead of him at 29.
Farmer blinking frequently during fight
The reason for Farmer being taken to the hospital afterwards was due to him blinking frequently during the fight, and it looked to some like he wasn’t well. From the earliest moments of the fight, Farmer blinked a lot, and he wasn’t his normal self. The energy wasn’t there, and he fought in an entirely different way than what boxing fans are accustomed to seeing him do.
Farmer admitted that he had injured his right early on in the fight, and he was seen shaking it in between rounds after the 1st. However, Farmer said that he wasn’t able to use his jab as much as he wanted to, and it’s unclear why. His left hand wasn’t injured, but he decided to battle Diaz in close proximity the entire fight.
Farmer and Diaz anticipate rematch in 2020
Diaz and Farmer could be facing each other in a rematch in April or May. Tevin said after the fight that he’s going to trigger his rematch clause in his contract to run it back again in a rematch in the next 3 to 4 months. It might take a little longer before the two face each other again, seeing that Diaz has a bad cut that will need time to heal. He likely won’t be able to begin sparring soon with the cut. Farmer will need time for his injured right hand to heal as well.
Tevin Farmer was released from Jackson Memorial Hospital after undergoing a precautionary CAT scan, the results of which were normal. #boxing #FarmerDiaz
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) January 31, 2020
That move seemed to favor Diaz, who battered Farmer with short punches. The only time that Diaz would let up was when Farmer would hold onto him in a clinch to keep him from getting his shots off.
Jo Jo cut in round 2
Diaz had to deal with a terrible cut that he suffered over his left eye in the 2nd round of his fight with Farmer on the Demetrius Andrade vs. Luke Keeler card. The cut was caused by an accidental head-butt.
Diaz didn’t let the cut get to him, and he continued to fight hard for the remainder of the fight to get the win. You’ve got to give Diaz’s corner a lot of credit for them doing an excellent job of controlling the bleeding to keep the fight from being stopped.
This was a great effort from the 2012 U.S Olympian Diaz, 27, who captures his first world title after eight years as a professional. When Diaz first turned pro, it was assumed that he was a can’t miss future world champion, but unfortunately it’s taken him a little longer to live up to the high expectations that people had of him.
Diaz lost to WBC featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. by a one-sided 12 round unanimous decision in May 2018. That was a case of Russell Jr. having too much hand speed for Diaz.
Farmer-Diaz final punch stats
Diaz connected on 170 of 660 shots for a connect percentage of 26, according to CompuBox’s stats. Farmer landed at a slightly lesser rate at 147 of 649 for a 23% connect rate. Diaz’s shots had more zip on them, and that was the reason for him getting the decision.
“I was focused and determined and I got the W this time,” an overjoyed Diaz said. “I’m very excited I won this. I have waited for this moment for a long time,” Diaz said.