Junior lightweight Tevin Farmer doesn’t consider himself to be superstitious. Yet for his past 16 bouts, the North Philadelphia native has entered the ring hairless and he has left the ring each time with a victory.
Farmer, who is considered to be among the best in world at 130 pounds, will be making his first North American Boxing Federation title defense Friday when he fights Californian Dardan Zenunaj at the 2300 Arena.
The South Philadelphia venue at 2300 S. Swanson St. will feature the Farmer-Zenunaj 10-rounder as the highlight of another Philly Fight Night eight-bout card that will start promptly at 7 p.m. Friday.
“I feel better when I enter the ring bald,” said Farmer, a southpaw who is 23-4-1, with five knockouts. “I can’t explain it. I let my hair grow when I’m not fighting but when I have a match, I have to be bald.”
Farmer, who prefers to wear a skirt instead of boxing trunks because he says his movement is less restricted, is expecting a title shot soon.
“Sooner or later, they are going to have to give me a shot,” said Farmer, who is ranked third by the World Boxing Council, seventh by the International Boxing Federation and 10th by the World Boxing Organization.
“This is another fight to put me closer to a world title shot,” the 26-year-old boxer said. “A win should set me up for a title opportunity early in 2017. After Dec. 2, I’m looking to face even bigger names. I don’t care who they put in front of me.”
Zenunaj should be a good test for Farmer. The 29-year-old Albania native won the Belgian featherweight title in his seventh fight and two years ago, he captured the World Boxing Association International junior lightweight title when he knocked out Karim Chakim of France in nine rounds.
“I’m not looking past him,” said Farmer of Zenunaj, who now calls Oxnard, Calif., home. “He’s just the next person that I have to beat.”
Farmer began his career fighting bouts with holes in his boxing shoes because he couldn’t afford a good pair. Now he has better management with his trainer Raul Rivas of Berlin, N.J. Farmer was 7-4-1 before his current winning pace.
“He is an up and coming fighter, there’s no doubt about that,” said J.Russell Peltz, whose Peltz Boxing is promoting the card along with DiBella Entertainment, BAM Boxing and Joe Hand Promotions. “Tevin is working hard. He’s focused.”
The seven-bout undercard includes a pair of six-round fights. Former cruiserweight world-title challenger Garrett Wilson of South Philadelphia goes against Lamont Capers of Hawley, Pa., in one six-rounder. Two others feature a pair of rising Philadelphia lightweight prospects — Avery Sparrow and Steven Ortiz.
Junior middleweight Isaiah Wise, welterweight Hasan Young and super bantamweight Jose Gonzalez are also on the card. A Russian flyweight, Basyzbek Barartov, will make his local debut.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the first fight set for at 7 p.m. For more information, call Peltz Boxing (215) 765-0922 or the 2300 Arena (267) 273-0945.