Jono Carroll believes that he is going to live up to his underdog status and become world champion as he takes on Tevin Farmer in Philadelphia on 15 March.
Dubliner Carroll challenges for the IBF Super Featherweight world title on St Patrick’s weekend in America and he believes that he will leave the famous boxing city as the new world champion.
Farmer defends his title for the third time, having secured the belt in August last year, fighting his fourth world title fight in less than eight months.
The hometown fighter already dispatched Ireland's James Tennyson last October in Boston, however, Carroll believes that his time is now, as he takes on a fighter who has "never been tested".
"I’ve always been the underdog but I just keep winning and winning and winning," said Carroll at the official launch of the fight in Philadelphia.
"Tevin Farmer is not going to know what hit him. He hasn’t been tested before so if he can beat me, I’ll take my hat off to him because it is going to take a great man to beat me.
"Mark my words, on March 15th, I’m going to take Tevin Farmer’s belt."
FACE OFF 😤 @TevinFarmer22 vs @jono_carroll
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 29, 2019
🗓 March 15
🏟 @LiacourasCenter, Philadelphia 🇺🇸
🥊 IBF World Super-Featherweight Championship
This... 🔥 #FarmerCarroll pic.twitter.com/JJnv7wzha8
Farmer dismissed all Carroll’s talk when he took to the stand and guaranteed his home fans another world title win, taking time to chide Carroll about his last performance in the ring, where the Irish fighter secured a perhaps fortuitous draw with Guillaume Frenois in what was the title eliminator.
"I’m going to beat his ass. I already beat his cousin," said Farmer, referring to his fight with Tennyson, before stating that he would take Carroll out for some famous Philly cheese-steak after the fight.
Carroll and Farmer have maintained plenty of social media beef in recent months and the home fans were quick to hand the Dubliner a hostile time during today’s press conference.
But Carroll said that he had nothing but love for the famous American city, which is synonymous with boxing.
"This is where I am going to win my world title, so this place will have history in my family."
Katie Taylor was also present in Philadelphia for the press conference as she fights for another world title belt, taking on Rose Volante, the reigning WBO lightweight champion.
"I can’t wait until March 15 when I will have a great chance to unify the division again and getting one step closer to becoming the undisputed champion, which has always been my goal," said Taylor.
🗣 @KatieTaylor: "I can’t wait for March 15th, a chance to unify the division again. I’m one step closer to becoming the undisputed champion, which has always been my ultimate goal. This is exactly what boxing needs, fighting the best of the best."#TaylorVolante @DAZN_USA pic.twitter.com/Z4KeWKZ3av
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 29, 2019
Ireland's John Joe Nevin is also set to fight on the undercard, as the London 2012 silver medallist looks to maintain his unbeaten record in the paid ranks.
