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+--- Thread: Parker vs Fa (/showthread.php?tid=906)
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-19-2021
Boxing: Stand-off brews as Junior Fa's camp hit out over judge selection for Joseph Parker heavyweight bout
19 Feb, 2021 06:00 PM
Joseph Parker's head trainer Kevin Barry says they are better prepared now than they were before the big fight was delayed.
By: Patrick McKendry
The Joseph Parker v Junior Fa all-Kiwi heavyweight showdown is only a week away but the three judges still have yet to be selected as both camps refuse to back down on what promoter David Higgins has described as a "shit-fight" over "trivialities".
What Higgins has described as one of his most challenging promotions, which has already been delayed once due to a medical condition for Fa which required surgery in December, and remains under a cloud due to possible Covid-19 restrictions which could require another postponement, has hit another speed bump due to a protest over the officials by the Fa camp.
Both camps have to agree to the judges and Fa's camp has pushed back over the naming of two Christchurch judges on the list.
Their reasoning is that as Parker's trainer Kevin Barry is a well-known and respected member of the Christchurch boxing community, putting two Christchurch judges ringside next Saturday would not be a good look.
"The list is full of Christchurch judges and we said 'we're not having that'," Fa's manager Mark Keddell told the Herald.
He added that Fa's fight in Christchurch on the undercard of the Parker v Alexander Flores gave his camp an insight into how tight the boxing fraternity is there, something Barry himself mentioned at the pre-fight press conference.
"He basically told us that day that Christchurch boxing was a very tight-knit community… so why would we want two judges from Christchurch when such a well-known and respected fighter, trainer and manager in his own right is on the other side?" Keddell said.
"We're not naïve enough to think that's okay for our guy. I'm not questioning anyone's integrity, all we're saying it's a tight-knit community and we're not interested in having Christchurch judges. It's a line in the concrete for us."
Brendan Bourke, the Asia Pacific manager of DiBella Entertainment who promote Fa, told the Herald: "We're not taking anything away from the judges there – they are fine people – we just feel that with two Auckland boxers fighting and so many good judges in Auckland that we should be able to find some judges from there that we can agree on."
Higgins attempted to dampen the flames by saying negotiations over the judges were continuing.
"It's correct to say the Fa camp have come back and indicated they have a problem with two judges from Christchurch and the reason given was the Barry family's history in that part of the world," he said. "We're taking that on board. On our side, there are one or two names we weren't entirely happy with either. I think it's going to require a compromise."
But Higgins added: "It's interesting dealing with people who haven't been at this level before. It's almost more difficult dealing with this team than it was with [promoters] Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum. It's nit-picking stuff.
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-19-2021
What's the issue if Parker says he's going to KO Jr? Just get 3 Auckland judges.
RE: Parker vs Fa - Kiwi - 02-20-2021
This is all just minor "niggle" ahead of the stoush.
Good for a few lines of press.....
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-20-2021
Kiwi, I need you firing on all cylinders Monday/Tuesday. Think, think, think that the fight will go ahead Saturday nite, Feb.27th. Your mantra for the weekend!
RE: Parker vs Fa - bart - 02-20-2021
as long as no outbreak I expect Auck to drop to L1 weds.....
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-20-2021
bart, I think that Mr Higgins said that the government will know by Monday, and he'll make the announcement one way or the other on Tuesday. Please let kiwi know, as he can be a naysayer...
RE: Parker vs Fa - Kiwi - 02-20-2021
Well - my inside Government sources tell me....
Er...... Um........
[Indecipherable].....
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-21-2021
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/combat-sports/124312835/junior-fas-promoter-lou-dibella-questions-joseph-parkers-hunger-ahead-of-heavyweight-showdown
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-22-2021
Boxing: 'Big things' in store for winner of Joseph Parker v Junior Fa
22 Feb, 2021 09:25 AM
Joseph Parker's head trainer Kevin Barry says they are better prepared now than they were before the big fight was delayed.
A mystery opportunity awaits Joseph Parker, should he beat Junior Fa this weekend.
It's been an upward battle re-climbing the ranks for the Kiwi boxer after losing his WBO heavyweight title to British star Anthony Joshua in 2018.
But Parker's manager David Higgins revealed he's in talks with UK promoter Eddie Hearn again and said a win on Saturday could secure Parker a big fight against an undisclosed opponent.
"There's quite an exciting opportunity quite imminently next," Higgins told Gold AM's Country Sport Breakfast. "...I'm like the guy at the top of the mast of the boat that has to survey the horizon and there's some exciting things in store for the winner of this fight."
Higgins said while Parker's next big fight could be held in New Zealand, it was more likely he would return overseas.
"There's so much money in boxing in the UK and the US, they're running mega shows in the UK with no crowds," Higgins said. "It would be tricky to do that here so for the next fight, you could mount a big fight here [but] the other option is to quarantine in the UK and be on one of those big cards there."
Meanwhile, Parker said he was feeling in the "best shape of his life" having made the most of the delayed fight, originally scheduled for last December, before blood tests revealed Fa was suffering from a health issue that required surgery.
Parker went on to have surgery himself and have bone fragments removed from his elbows and now feels better prepared than he believes he would have been two months ago.
"I'm fighting at 100 per cent now, fighting fit, I've had a good camp there's ups and downs in camp, good days and bad days, but right now, I'm feeling great," Parker said.
"I feel like I'm in the best shape, I have a good structure here in New Zealand, I don't feel like I've over-trained and I don't feel like I've under-trained. I feel like I've trained to the point where my body feels great. I feel like I'm on task to put on a great performance.
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 02-22-2021
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/boxing-joseph-parker-has-another-title-shot-in-the-wings-but-he-must-demolish-junior-fa-first-eddie-hearn/MFDTMD4NQI3IJFHHDQKWOGMZMU/