03-03-2019, 05:46 PM
Junior Fa records easy first-round TKO over Newfel Ouatah
Junior Fa needed less than one round to stop Newfel Ouatah.
Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa made quick work of Newfel Ouatah to extend his unbeaten record to 17-0.
Ouatah barely put up a fight, with Fa dropping him on four separate occasions in the first round before the referee put an end to the Frenchman's misery after 2min 51sec.
Fa, ranked No 9 in the WBO, took another step towards what he hopes will eventually be a high-profile showdown with Joseph Parker. Although, the result is unlikely to hold much weight with Parker's camp given Ouatah's poor showing.
While Ouatah entered the Columbus, Ohio bout with a respectable 16-2 record, he clearly had no business being in there with Fa.
The 29-year-old Aucklander came out full of aggression against his slightly taller opponent, landing the first knockdown midway through the round courtesy of a heavy right hand.
Ouatah beat the count but immediately took a knee as Fa swarmed with a barrage of punches.
With the three knockdown rule not in place, Ouatah was allowed to continue when he again dropped to the canvas shortly after. But the referee had no choice but to wave it off as Fa landed another combination in the dying seconds of the round.
With the victory Fa added the WBO International belt to his WBO Oriental title, the former strap recently vacated by Dillian Whyte after becoming the top-ranked challenger to WBO champion Anthony Joshua.
Meanwhile, Fa's City Kickboxing teammate Hemi Ahio also kept his unbeaten record intact with a seventh-round TKO over Ed Fountain (12-5).
After controlling the first six rounds, Ahio, who was making his US debut, stunned Fountain with a big right hand and followed up with two heavy shots to move to 13-0.
Junior Fa needed less than one round to stop Newfel Ouatah.
Kiwi heavyweight Junior Fa made quick work of Newfel Ouatah to extend his unbeaten record to 17-0.
Ouatah barely put up a fight, with Fa dropping him on four separate occasions in the first round before the referee put an end to the Frenchman's misery after 2min 51sec.
Fa, ranked No 9 in the WBO, took another step towards what he hopes will eventually be a high-profile showdown with Joseph Parker. Although, the result is unlikely to hold much weight with Parker's camp given Ouatah's poor showing.
While Ouatah entered the Columbus, Ohio bout with a respectable 16-2 record, he clearly had no business being in there with Fa.
The 29-year-old Aucklander came out full of aggression against his slightly taller opponent, landing the first knockdown midway through the round courtesy of a heavy right hand.
Ouatah beat the count but immediately took a knee as Fa swarmed with a barrage of punches.
With the three knockdown rule not in place, Ouatah was allowed to continue when he again dropped to the canvas shortly after. But the referee had no choice but to wave it off as Fa landed another combination in the dying seconds of the round.
With the victory Fa added the WBO International belt to his WBO Oriental title, the former strap recently vacated by Dillian Whyte after becoming the top-ranked challenger to WBO champion Anthony Joshua.
Meanwhile, Fa's City Kickboxing teammate Hemi Ahio also kept his unbeaten record intact with a seventh-round TKO over Ed Fountain (12-5).
After controlling the first six rounds, Ahio, who was making his US debut, stunned Fountain with a big right hand and followed up with two heavy shots to move to 13-0.