09-02-2021, 03:41 PM
The stalling point holding back Junior Fa v Justis Huni
Duncan Johnstone
10:54, Aug 31 2021
Junior Fa wants some financial security around his training environment to take on Justis Huni.
Junior Fa “can’t wait” to fight Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni but is seeking some additional security in these uncertain times to try to make it happen.
Huni’s manager Dean Lonergan spoke of his frustrations in trying to get the fight over the line for a showdown early next year on either side of the Tasman.
Fa’s manager Mark Keddell says the deal is close and is hinging on promoter Lonergan providing a $20,000 training fee to the Auckland heavyweight.
The negotiation process has been backwards and forwards with the Fa camp holding out for what they believe their fighter is worth, and wary from what they felt was some chequered history in previous dealings with Lonergan.
The current negotiations have been amicable and Keddell is hopeful they will prove productive.
“The devil is in the detail,” Keddell said of the process to date, “but we’re $20,000 apart right now.”
Keddell said the uncertainties around Covid, with fights being delayed, meant they needed some financial security with Fa's training environment.
“I run a pretty tight ship with Junior. We just want a small up front payment to do it, and we think it’s a really important part of the good faith to get the deal done.”
The Fa camp held their line in negotiations for his most recent fight against Joseph Parker and eventually got the deal done. Fa lost that fight in late February by unanimous points, and with it went his unbeaten record and his WBO ranking, which puts him in a delicate position as he looks to rebuild.
But Keddell says Fa won’t shy away from facing the athletic and powerful Huni, a stellar amateur who is 5-0 as a pro with huge ambitions.
“Junior can’t wait to fight Justis, he’d love to fight Joseph again as well. We feel really good about the Justis fight, but we just want to do the right thing for Junior.
Justis Huni knocked out Paul Gallen is his last defence of the Australian heavyweight title.
“We like the fight, and we wouldn’t take the fight unless we thought we could win the fight.
“But it’s not going to be a win that would push our ranking up, and we’re not fighting for a status. It’s just a win, so the money has to be right.”
Keddell said Fa had no problems fighting in Australia providing the judging panel was appropriate. They had a preference for Brisbane or Melbourne, but weren’t interested in a Sydney show.
Duncan Johnstone
10:54, Aug 31 2021
Junior Fa wants some financial security around his training environment to take on Justis Huni.
Junior Fa “can’t wait” to fight Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni but is seeking some additional security in these uncertain times to try to make it happen.
Huni’s manager Dean Lonergan spoke of his frustrations in trying to get the fight over the line for a showdown early next year on either side of the Tasman.
Fa’s manager Mark Keddell says the deal is close and is hinging on promoter Lonergan providing a $20,000 training fee to the Auckland heavyweight.
The negotiation process has been backwards and forwards with the Fa camp holding out for what they believe their fighter is worth, and wary from what they felt was some chequered history in previous dealings with Lonergan.
The current negotiations have been amicable and Keddell is hopeful they will prove productive.
“The devil is in the detail,” Keddell said of the process to date, “but we’re $20,000 apart right now.”
Keddell said the uncertainties around Covid, with fights being delayed, meant they needed some financial security with Fa's training environment.
“I run a pretty tight ship with Junior. We just want a small up front payment to do it, and we think it’s a really important part of the good faith to get the deal done.”
The Fa camp held their line in negotiations for his most recent fight against Joseph Parker and eventually got the deal done. Fa lost that fight in late February by unanimous points, and with it went his unbeaten record and his WBO ranking, which puts him in a delicate position as he looks to rebuild.
But Keddell says Fa won’t shy away from facing the athletic and powerful Huni, a stellar amateur who is 5-0 as a pro with huge ambitions.
“Junior can’t wait to fight Justis, he’d love to fight Joseph again as well. We feel really good about the Justis fight, but we just want to do the right thing for Junior.
Justis Huni knocked out Paul Gallen is his last defence of the Australian heavyweight title.
“We like the fight, and we wouldn’t take the fight unless we thought we could win the fight.
“But it’s not going to be a win that would push our ranking up, and we’re not fighting for a status. It’s just a win, so the money has to be right.”
Keddell said Fa had no problems fighting in Australia providing the judging panel was appropriate. They had a preference for Brisbane or Melbourne, but weren’t interested in a Sydney show.