11-22-2020, 02:03 PM
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."
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."