Junior Fa
Junior Fa v Justis Huni trans-Tasman super fight hits roadblock
Duncan Johnstone

Junior Fa, right, wants to get back into action, having not fought since a competitive bout with Joseph Park last February.
A frustrated Junior Fa is set to abandon a proposed Trans-Tasman super fight against rising Australian champion Justis Huni as talks hit an impasse.

The fight has been on the negotiating table since April and there were genuine hopes it could happen late this year or early next year, with Australian-based Kiwi promoter Dean Lonergan keen to stage the fight.

But a series of postponements are now forcing Fa, whose last fight was a points loss to Joseph Parker in Auckland in February, to look elsewhere.

Fa now seems likely to head to the United States where his US promoter Lou DiBella has a show planned for February in New York. Fa’s unbeaten stablemate and fellow Kiwi heavyweight Hemi Ahio could also feature on that card

Fa’s manager Mark Keddell appears to have had enough of the constant date changes put in front of him by Lonergan for the Huni fight to happen.

Keddell said the range of dates had gone from December to February, to April-May, and the latest had been touted for July or August.

“That would mean Junior had been out of the ring for a year and a half and that’s not workable,” Keddell told Stuff as his focus now went elsewhere.

“Dean Lonergan has walked away from this fight because we won’t agree to his fourth date change. It’s now eight months of date changing.”

DiBella had seen May as the last viable option.

At 32, Fa needs to get back into action as soon as possible. It’s a crucial junction for him - the loss to Parker was the first defeat of his professional career which now stands at 19-1.

Keddell said they had been happy to accommodate Huni’s request to get a warm-up fight in, given he was battling back from a broken hand that cost him his Olympic dream at the Tokyo Games and had stalled his pro career. Huni’s last fight was a knockout victory against former league star Paul Gallen in mid-June.

Huni is now scheduled to take on undefeated Australian heavyweight Paul Goodall in Brisbane on February 4.

During the early negotiating period Keddell had sought to get a $20,000 training camp fee set into the fight contract, fearing the talks could drag on, leaving Fa stranded and out of pocket.
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Fa needs a fight asap time is pushing on... feck it throw a bone to Lucas Browne
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Huni training with Justin Fortune in LA

By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing

Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni (5-0, 4 KOs) is in Los Angeles, training with former Manny Pacquiao strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune in preparation for his national title defense against Joseph Goodall (7-0-1, 6 KOs) n Brisbane on February 4.

“We’re pretty fortunate to be in the position that we’re in,” Huni’s father and trainer Rocki Huni told Wide World of Sports. “It’s all thanks to the team – (promoter) Dean Lonergan, (matchmaker) Stuart Duncan – to get this opportunity to train with a legend like Justin Fortune.

“Manny Pacquiao is a legend. I don’t think there will ever be another Manny Pacquiao. What he did for the sport and for his community is something that we dream about doing. To do half of what he’s done would be an awesome career.”

“Justin Fortune is good mates with Freddy Roach, so we’re hoping to get to the Wild Card gym at some point,” Rocki said. “Hopefully Freddy can also share some of his knowledge, as well, like he’s helped so many fighters in the past.”
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Finally, something on Jr. Fa.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2022/02/boxing-junior-fa-eyes-return-to-ring-after-long-covid-19-hiatus-since-joseph-parker-defeat.html
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looking to bring in a top 10 ?? might be a big ask
Maybe Mckean would make sense
Chisora (not top 10 but would be fun)
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He'll be finding on the undercard of Kambosos, so I imagine it would be an Aussie.  McKean is the only one I can think of.
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/junior-fa-eyes-comeback-fight-against-lucas-brown-on-world-title-card/IS3YVNKVKT7Q2CBMVUZIGVBIQQ/

This is behind a paywall. Can anyone who pays for the Herald open it? Please? Looks like Jr is fighting Lucas Browne.
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Hmmm its a fight which is better than nothing but Browne is basically a corpse
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I thought Fa was in the US looking for a fight. But Browne? I guess a fight is a fight is a fight. There are some up and coming fighters with undefeated records that would fit nicely on Fa's resume.
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Fa training with KB, according to the Herald. Sorry, don't have a subscription to post it.
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