Lightweight Tevin Farmer knows the game all too well. As a tricky southpaw, he’s become a measuring stick for promoters trying to gauge how their fighters might fare against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. Farmer, with his slick defensive style and southpaw stance, sees the pattern, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than just a test for the next big name.

On Nov. 16, Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) returns to the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to face Mexico’s William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) in a fight that could make or break his career. 

Farmer, a former IBF junior lightweight titleholder, is coming off a close decision loss to Raymond Muratalla — a fighter who, like many, is eyeing a showdown with Stevenson. Now, Farmer faces Zepeda, an aggressive, high-output fighter riding a four-fight knockout streak.

Farmer is acutely aware of the stakes. He’s been here before, but this time, the pressure feels heavier.

“They say me and Shakur [Stevenson] got similar styles, and I'm the guy they want to see how good Zepeda does to see if he’s ready for Shakur,” Farmer said. “But I promise you, he will not make it to Shakur.”

Zepeda, 28, has looked unstoppable, with his last fight ending in a third-round knockout of Giovanni Cabrera. But Farmer, at 34, still sees himself as a force to be reckoned with, despite setbacks. After losing his title to Joseph Diaz Jr. in January 2020, Farmer took a three-year hiatus before returning to win three fights in the Northeast. His recent loss to Muratalla was razor-close, and now he’s determined to bounce back as he explained how he sees himself. 

“I feel like I'm a young veteran,” Farmer said. “I started boxing late, so I still feel young, but I’ve got a lot of fights in. I’ve got to go out there and beat the guy everyone’s afraid of, and that’s William Zepeda.”

For Farmer, this fight is about more than just another notch on his belt. It’s about reclaiming his place in the sport — or maybe walking away for good.

“Last fight was a do or die for me, but it didn’t go my way, unfortunately,” Farmer said. “This time, it’s do or die for real. We’re coming to put on a show.”