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+--- Thread: Parker vs Fa (/showthread.php?tid=906)
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 11-20-2020
Parker-Fa fight postponed after Fa's blood test rules him out
Marvin France
The much-awaited Joseph Parker-Junior Fa boxing bout has been postponed after a blood test from Fa ruled him out of stepping into the ring on December 12.
Promoters Duco Events are hoping to reschedule the Auckland bout in either late February or early March next year, with a press conference scheduled for Monday.
“We saw an issue in sparring and in training for a few days, we had a routine blood test anyway on the Friday, and because of the blood test result on Monday the doctor said we weren't cleared to fight in four weeks,”’ Fa’s manager Mark Keddell told Stuff.
“We've spent a lot of time with surgeons and specialists over the last few days getting things under control ... so now he's got to have an operation on Tuesday."
Fa suffered a health scare three years ago after tests discovered low iron and haemoglobin levels, undergoing minor gastric surgery as a result.
Keddell said it was a different issue on this occasion but declined to give any more details that the Parker camp could use to their advantage
Junior Fa’s blood test has ruled him has long operated in the shadow of Joseph Parker. Now he gets a chance to prove a point in the professional ranks.
"It's one of those things that you keep your cards pretty close in this game," Keddell added. "You don't want people taking advantage of you and your condition, so we're keeping things pretty tight. It's probably something we'll talk about more after the fight."
While Fa was "devastated" by the news, Keddell was confident that he would return stronger than ever.
"The guy's in amazing shape, he's got a six pack which is quite amazing four weeks out from a fight in the heavyweight division. He's an absolute Adonis when you look at him and just something wasn't working and it required surgery to fix up. It's just one of those things that we've got to do."
Duco Events owner and Parker's manager David Higgins is working with stakeholders to finalise a new date but took the setback in his stride.
Higgins pointed to the 2009 blockbuster he staged between David Tua and Shane Cameron, which actually benefited from suffering a similar delay.
"I've been an event promoter for 16 years and boxing’s the gift that keeps on giving," Higgins said. "We've had postponements before. In the David Tua-Shane Cameron fight, Shane Cameron took a tune-up (fight) beforehand and broke his hand and that delayed the event a few months. At the time I thought it was the end of the world but in hindsight, it made it a much bigger event. It gave it a bigger lead time and more excitement built.
"The key thing is we want both boxers at 100 per cent peak fitness competing at the highest level ... so there was really no choice but to delay a few months."
Stuff
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 11-22-2020
oseph Parker urged to convert frustration into fury after delay to Junior Fa bout
Marvin France
Joseph Parker has been urged to channel David Tua and convert his frustration into fury when he eventually meets fellow Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa.
Parker, who has been waiting since February to get back in the ring, will have to wait at least a few months longer than expected after a blood test revealed Fa requires surgery, postponing their December 12 clash in Auckland.
The all-Kiwi heavyweight bout between Joseph Parker and Junior Fa has been postponed until early next year.
Parker had initially hoped for a busy 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic derailed those plans. And with negotiations for the Fa fight dragging on for more than eight months before October’s announcement, the former WBO champion now faces a particularly prolonged build-up to his next appearance.
Organisers are looking to reschedule the bout for either late February or early March next year, with an announcement expected on Monday.
But Parker's manager and Duco Events owner David Higgins believes the 28-year-old can use the delay to his advantage, just like Tua did when he knocked out Shane Cameron in 2009.
"We were all frustrated at Covid and he will have been out of action for nearly a year by the time the fight happens," Higgins told Stuff.
Joseph Parker hasn’t fought since beating American Shawndell Winters in February.
"I just have to look at that example of what David Tua did with Shane Cameron after a long build-up. As Joseph Parker's manager, not the promoter from this event, I'm hoping that he unleashes a similar fury when the event does happen."
Fa has an operation scheduled for Tuesday. His manager Mark Keddell declined to specify the issue but was confident the undefeated Aucklander would make a swift recovery for the biggest fight of his career.
"We're devastated because Junior is in amazing shape," Keddell said. "He's very powerful, very fit and we recognised an issue that coincided with a routine blood test that showed something that wasn't very good and we had to fix it."
It's understood that under the terms of the contract, the bout can be delayed for a certain period of time due to injury or the impact of Covid-19.
Parker has won his last three fights following back-to-back losses against British duo Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in 2018, and is determined to return to the title conversation.
But even if he could chase another opportunity overseas, Higgins said a burning desire to settle his rivalry with Fa from their amateur days – which was split 2-2 – meant it was unlikely he would have done so.
"Joseph Parker wants to fight Junior Fa, Junior Fa wants to fight Joseph Parker," Higgins added. "Parker's ranked number three (in the WBO), Fa is number six. It makes perfect sense that they're on a collision course and the key thing is they're going to collide at peak fitness.
"So there's no question about the event happening, we're just going to have to be patient and wait a little bit longer."
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 11-22-2020
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/other/unlikely-hard-man-junior-fa-shares-his-journey-ring-v1
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 11-23-2020
Joseph Parker v Junior Fa: Trainer Eugene Bareman sparks war of words over 'Higgins Show'
Trainer Eugene Bareman has ramped up the tension around the highly anticipated Joseph Parker-Junior Fa bout, with a war of words erupting between the two camps that he calls the "Higgins Show".
The fight has been postponed until early next year, with Fa, 31, requiring surgery, after abnormalities were found in his blood.
Fa admits he's gutted the fight has to be delayed, but vows to be ready for the bout, now tentatively rescheduled for February or March.
But Bareman claims the delay means Fa will lose the biggest advantage he has over his Kiwi rival, insisting Parker's camp weren't taking the fight seriously, but manager David Higgins was orchestrating everything behind the scenes.
Bareman also confirmed that, due to the delay, he and any of his City Kickboxing UFC fighters - including middleweight champion Israel Adesanya - are unlikely to be in Fa's corner, as they will have their own bouts to prepare for.
"One thing we've been reminded of is that this is 100 percent the 'Higgins Show'," says Bareman. "It's all cool up here, but it's a shit fight backstage.
"David [Higgins] experienced this when he took Parker to fight [Anthony] Joshua. He had Eddie Hearn on his arse and now he's paying it back to us, making us work hard for everything.
"We lose the main advantage we had. They were not taking this fight seriously and you know that because Kevin Barry took his time coming back.
"We were already training for four weeks, before they decided to start.
"My gym at City Kickboxing, we run these streets. If you're partying with celebrities or scumbags, we will know about it.
"These guys are from Vegas, we run the streets. If they are not taking the fight seriously, we will know about it.
"This is a fight and it's going to get nasty.
"I have respect for Joseph and Kevin [Barry]. I like them, but at the same time, stuff those guys - they can kiss my arse."
Barry, Parker's trainer, has applauded Bareman for his "outstanding" rant, but insists Parker is taking the fight seriously.
"At the age of 24, when he became the fourth-youngest WBO heavyweight champion, we did not take anything for granted," he says.
"We didn't take any opponent lightly and I can promise, with my hand on my heart, that we are not taking the fight lightly.
"I can't control what other people think or say. I can control what I say, I can promise you this is the fight we are taking very, very seriously.
"The stakes couldn't be higher for us. If we don't get this fight right, it's going to be a long time before Joseph gets back in the mix to fight for the world title.
"Junior is sixth in the world and unbeaten. Joseph is 27 and has fought some of the biggest names in boxing, but at the age of 28, Joe is starting to come into his prime."
Higgins claims they can control the narrative because they have invested the most money into the fight.
"Frankly, we are pissed off at the carry-on from their camp," says Higgins. "They messed us around.
"Do I feel sorry for them? No.
"There are no other opportunities in New Zealand, so we've been put out a lot, but this is boxing and we'll roll with the punches.
"I hope Joseph Parker makes them pay for the extra time we've had to wait."
RE: Parker vs Fa - diehard - 11-23-2020
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/live-updates-junior-fa-says-hell-be-fit-and-ready-for-joseph-parker-fight-after-surgery-delays-bout/A3ZMTNILVJQZC56MQSLT6GUQUY/
RE: Parker vs Fa - Kiwi - 11-23-2020
Hopefully the tension will ramp up some.
But most of all we hope Fa is healthy....
RE: Parker vs Fa - mippy - 11-23-2020
Eugene is such a crack up. I think Israel has been teaching him how to trash talk
RE: Parker vs Fa - bart - 11-23-2020
seems a wee bit of fruitless name calling
Probably to keep things boiling so public don't lose interest after postponement
RE: Parker vs Fa - mippy - 11-23-2020
I guess it's up to Higgins and Bareman to trash talk, Parker and Fa are too nice
RE: Parker vs Fa - bart - 11-23-2020
Yeah seems that way
whatever works I suppose