17-0 New Zealand Heavyweight Junior Fa Making Waves, March 2019 Prospect of Month
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Stuff.co.nz
Deontay Wilder’s heavyweight sparring partner, Junior Fa of New Zealand, who scored a first-round knockout of Newfei Ouatah in Columbus, Ohio, on March 2, 2019, to win the vacant World Boxing Organization Oriental regional heavyweight title, and go to 17-0 with 10 knockouts, is the Real Combat Media ‘Prospect of the Month’ for March 2019.
Amateur Career of Junior Fa
Trained by Lolo Heimuli at the Balmoral Gar Gym in Auckland, New Zealand, Fa represented Tonga as an amateur, and is noteworthy for his rivalry with Joseph Parker who he fought four times, winning twice. A super heavyweight, Fa participated in the Oceania Olympic Qualifiers in 2008 and 2012, winning a silver medal in 2012. Fa won a gold medal in 2009 as the New Zealand super heavyweight champion, decisioning Parker. Fa also won a Bronze medal in 2010 at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India.
Fa was drafted for two seasons in the amateur World Series of Boxing, training alongside Anthony Joshua. His first season was 2011 to 2012 with the Indian Mumbai Fighters Franchise as a midseason entry, and ranked in the top eight heavyweights for the series. His second season in 2012 to 2013, Fa was drafted by the British Lionhearts, where he eventually fought future world cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Professional Career of Junior Fa
After taking three years to raise a family, Fa turned pro in February 2016 with a first-round knockout of Richard Tutaki, the first of his eight first round knockouts. A fine technical fighter, Fa has won seven decisions of four, six, eight, and 10 rounds. Fa currently holds the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association and the World Boxing Organization Oriental Heavyweight titles. Fa is overdue for a major step up bout in 2019.
The Real Combat Media ‘Prospect of the Month’ for March 2019, Junior Fa has a strong fan following, major experience, and is making waves. At age 29, Fa must make up for the three years he took off for a family with disciplined hard training. His training success and work ethic will ultimately determine whether or not he realizes his full potential, and progresses in the competitive professional heavyweight division today. The world is watching. A future world heavyweight could be in the making.
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