11-13-2023, 12:47 PM
Junior Fa set to join Parker at lucrative Saudi boxing event
By Patrick McKendry, Digital Sport Reporter
Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa is set to join countryman Joseph Parker at what is shaping up to be a glittering and extremely lucrative event featuring some of the best boxers in the world in Saudi Arabia next month.
Fa, who lost to Parker in a fight that went the distance in Auckland in 2021, is lined up to meet undefeated Cuban Frank Sanchez in the ring in Riyadh on December 23.
The 34-year-old Fa hasn’t fought for 13 months but 1News understands he was training for another fight before the Sanchez opportunity arose.
It’s likely to be one of the biggest paydays for Fa, who has fought 22 times as a professional, with his only other loss coming at the hands of Australian journeyman Lucas Browne in the middle of last year.
That defeat in Melbourne, a stoppage, was a shock result for Fa, who was expected to win relatively comfortably, but it’s likely that setback played a part in encouraging Sanchez, undefeated over 23 professional fights, to agree to the Fa match-up.
Sanchez’s biggest win was a unanimous decision over Nigerian Efe Ajagba in Las Vegas two years ago and if Fa enters the ring in the right mental and physical shape he could trouble a man who has never fought outside of the United States as a professional.
A press conference in London scheduled for early on Thursday morning NZT will confirm the event and participants, with Fa’s manager Mark Keddell confirming to 1News today that he and Fa were flying out for it tonight and were looking forward to the fight.
As reported by 1News yesterday, Parker is set to fight American Deontay Wilder at the event, with fellow heavyweight Anthony Joshua to clash with Swede Otto Wallin.
1News understands that negotiations are still ongoing over which fight will be the main event and that there is still every chance it could be Parker v Wilder as both are former world champions.
Joshua, who beat Parker to claim his WBO world title in Cardiff in 2018, is also a former world champion but is fighting a man in Wallin who has a far lower profile, although Wallin's only defeat as a professional was at the hands of current WBC champion Tyson Fury.
Another highly-ranked heavyweight, Filip Hrgovic of Croatia, is also set to fight on the card.
The main event was initially set for Fury v Oleksandr Usyk in a clash for the undisputed world heavyweight championship, but Fury’s tougher than expected fight against MMA heavyweight Francis Ngannou in Riyadh last month has delayed that until February.
Parker fought on the undercard of that event, beating Canadian Simon Kean in an impressive performance.
By Patrick McKendry, Digital Sport Reporter
Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa is set to join countryman Joseph Parker at what is shaping up to be a glittering and extremely lucrative event featuring some of the best boxers in the world in Saudi Arabia next month.
Fa, who lost to Parker in a fight that went the distance in Auckland in 2021, is lined up to meet undefeated Cuban Frank Sanchez in the ring in Riyadh on December 23.
The 34-year-old Fa hasn’t fought for 13 months but 1News understands he was training for another fight before the Sanchez opportunity arose.
It’s likely to be one of the biggest paydays for Fa, who has fought 22 times as a professional, with his only other loss coming at the hands of Australian journeyman Lucas Browne in the middle of last year.
That defeat in Melbourne, a stoppage, was a shock result for Fa, who was expected to win relatively comfortably, but it’s likely that setback played a part in encouraging Sanchez, undefeated over 23 professional fights, to agree to the Fa match-up.
Sanchez’s biggest win was a unanimous decision over Nigerian Efe Ajagba in Las Vegas two years ago and if Fa enters the ring in the right mental and physical shape he could trouble a man who has never fought outside of the United States as a professional.
A press conference in London scheduled for early on Thursday morning NZT will confirm the event and participants, with Fa’s manager Mark Keddell confirming to 1News today that he and Fa were flying out for it tonight and were looking forward to the fight.
As reported by 1News yesterday, Parker is set to fight American Deontay Wilder at the event, with fellow heavyweight Anthony Joshua to clash with Swede Otto Wallin.
1News understands that negotiations are still ongoing over which fight will be the main event and that there is still every chance it could be Parker v Wilder as both are former world champions.
Joshua, who beat Parker to claim his WBO world title in Cardiff in 2018, is also a former world champion but is fighting a man in Wallin who has a far lower profile, although Wallin's only defeat as a professional was at the hands of current WBC champion Tyson Fury.
Another highly-ranked heavyweight, Filip Hrgovic of Croatia, is also set to fight on the card.
The main event was initially set for Fury v Oleksandr Usyk in a clash for the undisputed world heavyweight championship, but Fury’s tougher than expected fight against MMA heavyweight Francis Ngannou in Riyadh last month has delayed that until February.
Parker fought on the undercard of that event, beating Canadian Simon Kean in an impressive performance.