Tevin Farmer-Mickey Bey set for May 21 in Ghana on pay-per-view

Former world titleholders Tevin Farmer and Mickey Bey will square off 10-round lightweight on May 21 at the Accra Sports Center in Ghana. The card will be streamed via pay-per-view ($29.99) at FarmervsBeyPPV.com.

Farmer (30-5-1, 6 KOs), a 32-year-old southpaw from Philadelphia, outpointed Billy Dib to win the IBF 130-pound title in August 2018. He subsequently made four defenses in 11 months. In his fifth defense, in January 2020, he was soundly outpointed by JoJo Diaz and has not fought since.

“This is big fight for both of us at this stage in our careers and I know what I need to do to make the most of this opportunity,” Farmer said. “I want to show the world the type of warrior I still am and that I have a lot of fight left in me. This is going to be a tough fight, but I will come out on top.

“A win against Mickey Bey will put me right back in the mix to fight for a world title at lightweight. Everything is riding on this bout, and I can’t wait to get in the ring and do what I do best and that’s fight.”

The 38-year-old Bey (23-3-1, 11 KOs), of Cleveland, who is also coming off an extended layoff, won the IBF lightweight title via split decision against Miguel Vazquez in 2014 but never defended it. He has only fought four times since the win and hasn't boxed since a split decision loss to current undisputed lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. in December 2019 on the Terence Crawford-Egidijus Kaaliauskas undercard at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“I am excited this bout came together,” Bey said. “It was a lot of hard work from both Tevin and myself, and we’re bringing world-class boxing to Africa. This will be a global event that features elite fighters battling in a huge sporting venue that promises to provide an amazing atmosphere. Tevin is one of the best fighters I could face, and when other fights fell out for him, I jumped at the chance to fight him.

“This is my chance to show everyone that I am one of the best fighters in the world. I would love to get my rematch with Kambosos Jr. one day and putting on a great performance against Tevin Farmer lays the groundwork for me to be able to get that fight in the future.”

In the chief support, hometown kid Isaac Dogboe (23-3, 15 KOs), who hails from Accra, will face Eugene Lagos (16-6-3, 11 KOs), 27, of the Philippines, in a 10-round featherweight fight. The 27-year-old has won three straight following a pair of defeats of title defeats to then-junior featherweight menace Emanuel Navarrete.