Date of Birth: 23/11/89
From: Liverpool

Record: 20-5 (5 KOs)

Weight: Super-Lightweight

Height: 5ft 8in

Stance: Orthodox

 

Tom Farell saved his career after reaching the final of the Boxxer Super-Lightweight competition in November 2021. It had looked bleak following a shock defeat against Lithuanian Edvinas Puplauskas in September 2021 when he was floored three times before losing 56-54 on referee Mark Lyson’s card.

Farrell came in weighing 150.25lb and manager Steve Wood insisted Farrell needed to get nearer to Super-Lightweight to make an impression. He did just that in the one night, eight man knockout tournament despite being one of the underdogs.

Farrell saw off fancied Ben Fields in the quarter-final and in the last four used his experience to overcome VIP stablemate Kane Gardner. It looks like Gardner might edge it, but when ‘Fazza’ floored the Mancunian in the final seconds of the third and final round, it became a 10-8 round and he snatched a majority decision.

In the final there was little to choose between Farrell and winner Cori Gibbs. At the final bell few were confident over who would win the £40,000 first prize, but Gibbs took a split decision. There is now a real possibility of a rematch Liverpool rival Sean ‘Masher’ Dodd in the first half of 2022.

The pair clashed in their home city at the Echo Arena in November 2019, and the expected war was cut short after four rounds when Farrell was badly cut following a clash of heads. The scheduled ten-rounder went to the scorecards and Dodd who was narrowly ahead on the judges’ cards snatched a inconclusive win although the fight hadn’t truly got going.

‘Fazza’ won his first 13 fights, and the future looked bright in October 2016 when he captured a majority verdict against Algerian born Belgian Farid Hakimi to win the vacant WBA International title.  He then impressed in victories over Daza Usher, Tommy Carus and Chris Adaway to set up a clash against Ohara Davies with the WBA International championship which was once again vacant on the line. It was a torrid night for Farrell who was stopped in round six having struggled to deal with the long arms of the Marmite Londoner.

Three low-key wins followed, but Tom got back into title contention with a challenge for Philip Bowes Commonwealth 140lb title in March 2019. Again, it wasn’t Tom’s night going down on points after 12 rounds. Since the unsatisfactory ending to the Dodd fight, Farrell has boxed just once and outpointed Ismael Molina Moreno. VIP boss Wood is close to Tom and encouraging him to manage fighters when he eventually calls time on his career.