Rematches are a double-edged sword—you either rise to the occasion and prove your dominance, or you rest on your laurels and get humbled in the ring. Just last month, we saw Dmitry Bivol turn the tables on former undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev. Could William Zepeda face a similar fate, tasting his first career defeat when he steps against Tevin Farmer on March 29? Or will history repeat itself, just like it did when Oleksandr Usyk outclassed Tyson Fury last year?

Boxing is a game of inches—one split-second decision can flip the script entirely. Just last year, under the bright lights of The Venue in Riyadh, Tevin Farmer and William Zepeda went toe-to-toe for the WBC Interim World Lightweight title. It was the 28-year-old’s first shot at a world title (interim title to be precise), and he won it via a split decision despite suffering a knockdown in round four. Some believe the Mexican got lucky—but will Lady Luck smile on him again, or is his luck about to run out? Looking at his track record, Zepeda seems poised to bag another victory. But don’t count out the 34-year-old just yet—experience is a dangerous weapon. So, let’s break this fight down and see who’s really got the edge.

William Zepeda vs. Tevin Farmer: Who has better stats and record?

William Zepeda has been tearing through the lightweight division for nearly a decade now, stacking up an impressive record of 32 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. With 27 knockouts, his KO ratio sits at a staggering 84.38%. On average, his fights don’t even make it past 4.6 rounds before he sends his opponent packing. The man fights like he’s got a bus to catch. And just four months after their first battle, here we are again—Zepeda and Farmer, back in the ring for round two. Over his last five fights, Zepeda has been clocking in a fight roughly every 4 months and 29 days, going a total of 27 rounds—an average of 5.4 rounds per fight. Since making his pro debut in November 2015, the San Mateo native has spent nearly a decade fine-tuning his craft. No wonder he’s currently sitting at #5 in The Ring’s lightweight rankings.

Now, let’s talk about Tevin Farmer. His journey in boxing has been anything but smooth. The guy had a rough start—his pro debut in 2011 ended in a fourth-round KO loss to Oscar Santana. He did manage to bounce back with two unanimous decision wins, but just when he thought he had momentum, boom—another loss in his fourth fight.

But here’s the thing about Farmer—he’s resilient. You might not know this, but he actually started as a super featherweight. And he wasn’t just another name in the division—he won and defended the IBF World Super Featherweight title four times after first claiming it in 2018 against Billy Dib. But his reign came to a brutal halt in 2020 when he lost to Joseph Diaz via unanimous decision. That loss stung—so much so that Farmer took a three-year break from the sport.

When he came back, he moved up to lightweight, and at first, it seemed like a smart move—three straight wins, two by KO. But boxing has a funny way of humbling even the best. Since July last year, he’s been on a downward spiral, losing both of his last two fights—including that title fight against Zepeda for the WBC Interim World Lightweight belt.

At 34 years old (turning 35 in just a few months), Farmer’s experience is undeniable. He’s got 33 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw, with only 8 knockouts, which gives him a KO ratio of just 24%. In total, he’s fought 313 rounds, meaning his fights last an average of 7.6 rounds—a stark contrast to Zepeda’s quick finishes. Farmer might not have the power of his opponent, but he’s got the ring IQ and endurance. Currently, he’s ranked #10 by The Ring and #2 by the WBC at lightweight.

So, who’s got the edge? On paper, Zepeda looks like the easy pick. For 2X it’s a tough hill to climb. But hey, this is boxing. You don’t wanna lose? Fight harder. However, there’s more to this fight than just the numbers. Let’s dive into the other key factors that could decide the outcome.

Zepeda vs. Farmer’s height, weight, reach comparison, and more

So, what does Tevin Farmer have in his corner other than experience? Well… not much, to be honest. If we’re looking at the physical advantages, William Zepeda is winning that battle too.

Let’s talk about height and reach. The southpaw stands at 5’9”, which gives him a three-inch height advantage over Farmer, who measures 5’6”. Now, three inches might not sound like a huge deal, but in a sport where range and distance control can make or break a fight, those extra inches could definitely come in handy.

And it doesn’t stop there—Zepeda also has a longer reach. He can stretch out to 69½ inches (177 cm), while Farmer maxes out at 67 inches (170 cm). That’s a 2½-inch difference—enough to give Zepeda a little more space to work with, keeping Farmer at the end of his jabs and making it harder for him to close the gap.

Moreover, both fighters are southpaws, so there’s no tricky orthodox vs. southpaw chess match happening here. This levels the playing field in terms of style—but that doesn’t necessarily work in Farmer’s favor. Why? Because Zepeda isn’t just bigger—he’s also younger, stronger, and hits harder. However, there is one thing we need to consider. Last year in November, William Zepeda suffered a left-hand injury that forced him out of the Shakur Stevenson fight. As a result, he had to rest up and heal for six to eight weeks. Considering that he is a southpaw with a previously injured left hand, this puts his knockout abilities into question, something that Farmer can bank on this time around.

So it looks like despite the great stats, William Zepeda’s win isn’t as sure-shot as we would want it to be. And taking into consideration that the last time, even with a good hand, he got dropped as well as being saved by a narrow split decision win, the outcome going his way this time around appears bleak. But hey, will in the name of the game and Zepeda has got it (pun intended). So, can Tevin Farmer finish the job he started?

We’re about to find out. What are your thoughts about this? Do let us know in the comments below.