By Jeff Carroll
Nov. 13 2019: The feud goes back to their first fight. JoJo Diaz was going to be the toughest test of Tevin’s career. The fight was to take place Jan 30 in Miami.
Jan 30 2020: Farmer loses his belt in a tough 12 round battle which saw Diaz suffer a GRUESOME cut.
That same day, Farmer immediately announces that he has a rematch clause and will be activating it.
Feb 4 2020: Diaz acknowledges that his cut may not heal in time for the rematch. May take 6 months.
Feb. 11 2020: Shavkat Rakhimov wins his IBF title eliminator, and the IBF order the Diaz-Rakhimov fight.
March 23 2020: The WBO cancel all boxing events through to June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All other organizations worldwide soon follow. The rematch is indefinitely delayed.
April 30 2020: First report that JoJo Diaz would rather defend title once against mandatory before facing Farmer in the rematch.
May 12 2020: Tevin Farmer ignores the rumours and is confident the rematch is going to occur.
July 15 2020: Farmer’s camp begins making claims that Diaz is pressuring the IBF to enforce the mandatory so he doesn’t have to rematch Farmer.
September 28 2020: Farmer claims Diaz has now been writing letters to the IBF begging them to enforce the mandatory so he doesn’t have to face Farmer in a rematch.
In a JUICY now deleted IG post, Farmer further claims Diaz is ducking him, and demands he “HONOR THE CONTRACT”.
Oct 28 2020: Rumours of a rematch happening resurface once more, but no date is given by DAZN
Nov. 24 2020: Mike Coppinger reports that the rematch clause has expired, but Tevin denies this report.
Dec. 18 2020: Diaz-Rakhimov is announced for the IBF title, to take place on February 13, 2021
Jan 14 2021: Rakhimov tests positive for COVID-19, and is out the Feb title fight.
Jan 14 2021: Diaz claims on the Chris Mannix podcast that Farmer wanted to be the A side, which is why they couldn’t agree on a deal, and that the rematch clause expired.
Jan 14 2021: Lou DiBella, Farmer’s manager calls out Diaz for lying, also refers to Tevin as Kevin.
Jan 14 2021: Farmer offers to step in to replace Rakhimov on four weeks notice.
Jan 14 2021: Diaz claims Farmer is just “clout chasing”.
Jan 14 2021: DiBella claims Diaz has been misled by his handlers.
Jan 14 2021: Diaz responds
This grade A, cornfed, All American, hot blooded beef seems like it has a long way to go. Will Farmer step in to replace Rakhimov? Will Diaz allow a rematch? One can only hope, as when there’s this much bad blood, fireworks are sure to follow.