JAMES TENNYSONย and Tevin Farmer both have business to attend to this Saturday (October 20) in Boston, when they clash for Farmerโs IBF super-featherweight crown, but that hasnโt stopped either of them dreaming of bigger and better things in the future.
Tennyson, 22-2 (18), the underdog with it all to do, has his sights set on an all-Belfast world title clash with former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, while Farmer, 26-4-1 (5), seems to fancy the idea of sharing a ring with current WBA super-featherweight champion Gervonta Davis.
โCarl has always said that he would love to be a three-weight world champion so just imagine if James wins and he faces Carl at Windsor Park next summer. It would be huge,โ Tennysonโs manager Mark Dunlop told the Belfast Telegraph.
At this stage, itโs purely manager talk. Tennyson, no fool, is aware of the size of the task facing him at the Boston Garden this weekend and has probably yet to even entertain the possibility of fighting Frampton next year. Besides, Frampton must firstย dethrone a buoyant Josh Warrington on December 22, when the pair meet for the Leeds manโs IBF featherweight title.
Farmer, on the other hand, the champion favoured to beat Tennyson this weekend, is clearly happy to discuss other future opponents.
โI have a big fight on Saturday and Iโm not overlooking James,โ said Farmer. โYou donโt get to this level for no reason and I know heโs going to come to fight and try to beat me, but thatโs not going to be easy โ he needs to make sure he brings his A-game.
โI want to fight Gervonta Davis. I have a title, I have a great contract, so I donโt need him โ but I have to have that fight. Thereโs been a lot of talking but I am about handling business. Weโve talked enough. I want the fight, so letโs make it happen.
โThereโs no more โget a titleโ talk. Thereโs millions of dollars in that fight and it can be made. Itโs one of the biggest fights in boxing. I donโt have to chase anyone. Iโm the money out there now. Get your ticket and Iโll pick it.
โThe best want to fight the best and itโs got to happen. I am a fighter, thatโs all I want. Letโs leave the streets on the streets and do the fighting in the ring.โ
If James Tennysonโs previous form is anything to go by, Tevin Farmer might have a bit of a street fight on his hands this Saturday night.
We knew Lee Selby wasnโt going to stick around at featherweight much longer. This was clear the moment he struggled toย produce his usual magic against Josh Warrington at Elland Road in May.
What we didnโt know, however, was that Selby, no longer the IBF featherweight champion, would eventually decide to jump not one but two weight classes in order to rediscover his old form.
Thatโs the message coming out of the Welshmanโs camp ahead of a proposed December return, and Selby feels itโs a decision that makes perfect sense at this stage in his 10-year pro career.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 31-year-old said: โIt was a massive struggle for me to get my big frame down to the nine-stone featherweight limit.
โEven super-feather was only a four-pound difference and I didnโt think that gain would benefit me too much. Lightweight is my natural weight and I am ready to show just that.
โWhen Iโm at the gym, sparring at my natural weight, Iโm known as a big puncher. As soon as I start losing the weight and go below ten-stone, the power decreases. Now, I will show my power.
โI had to stay at 126 pounds to defend my title. Iโd never vacate a title after working so hard to get it. That would just feel like quitting.
โReally, I should have moved up as far back as 2012 after I won the British outright. Thatโs when the stoppages stopped. I had outgrown the division and had no power. I didnโt complain and just carried on making weight.โ
The addition of Selby, 26-2 (9), to the lightweight division is a welcome one. Domestically, in particular, he could find himself involved in some fascinating fights in 2019.
โI want to be in with the top fighters,โ he said. โThe biggest names we have in the UK at lightweight are [Anthony] Crolla, maybe [Ricky] Burns and [Luke] Campbell. Iโd love to get straight in the mix with them now.
โI sparred with Burns before his [Terence] Crawford defence, it was great, and Crolla would be perfect. I had feedback that Iโd be too small and lack power, but Iโve been in with these guys sparring and I’m the bigger man.
โI just want big fights, either domestic or internationally. Iโm ready to get straight in there.
โI’m waiting on my manager to confirm details, but I will be returning in December. Iโd like any title shot or an eliminator.
โ[Vasyl] Lomachenko and [Mikey] Garcia have the belts tied up at the minute and Iโd happily take them on โ of course I would. If youโre not willing to be in with the best, you shouldnโt be fighting.โ
Lee Selby might not have a title to his name these days, but the hunger, it would seem, remains as strong as ever.