Photos: Gabriel Rosado, Maciej Sulecki - Showing Off Moves

Tevin Farmer believes his remarkable story is only going to get better as he prepares to defend his IBF World Jr. Lightweight title against Jono Carroll at the Liacouras Center, Philadelphia on Friday March 15, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK. (photos by Ed Mulholland).

Farmer defends his title for the third time against the Irishman, a first World title fight for the ‘American Idol’ on his Philly home patch – something that the 28 year old could not see coming in the summer of 2017 when his career was threatened after he was shot in the hand.

When Farmer did return to action, it was in his first World title clash in Las Vegas in December 2017, and was on the receiving end of a controversial defeat to Kenichi Ogawa, who later failed a drugs test.

The Philly ace would not be deterred though, and landed the IBF strap in Australia in August against Billy Dib and after joining forces with Matchroom Boxing USA and DAZN along with his long time promoter Lou DiBella and DiBella Entertainment, Farmer is reveling in his status as one of the most active champions and promises to put his brash Irish opponent to the sword on St Patrick’s weekend.

Farmer vs. Carroll tops a huge bill in Philadelphia on March 15, where Irish star Katie Taylor looks to unify her IBF and WBA Lightweight crowns against WBO champ Rose Volante.

Philly Middleweight warrior Gabriel Rosado is in a crunch clash with Polish World-rated contender Maciej Sulecki and there’s an all-Philly affair at Lightweight between Avery Sparrow and Hank Lundy.

Exciting amateur prospect Raymond Ford makes his pro debut on the bill and he’ll be looking to follow in the footsteps of two amateur standouts that also box in Philly – Kazakhstan’s Olympic gold medal man Daniyar Yeleussinov and Ireland’s Olympic silver medalist John Joe Nevin.