Visit 12
A good final as the two are fighting, tired and know for sure that this one is going to be tight on the cards, open it near the beginning and at the very end. Fa just got the best of the good pictures there, and I found myself sitting on the fence at 114-114. This will suit the judges better: the cunning tactics of Fa to pick Parker, or the aggression and campaign of the old world champ.
Visit 11
Junior Fa had never gone a distance in 10-rounders before, while Parker scored five straight 12-round touchdowns during his fights on world championship. This is where that knowledge could be crucial. And of course, it ‘s a good round for Parker in the 11th and he will go into the final round up with one on my cart.
Visit 10
Another round where Fa’s play plan pays off. He ties Parker up so the fight responds to him, and gets into some good clean ground when he does. Fa finishes the verse with a stream right to the front, which Parker gives him well, and I have this at five rounds each with only two left.
Short replay
It was an errant forearm from Parker because Fa was avoiding another bloody swing that drew blood on Fa’s slope, anyway.
Visit 9
Not much touring. Break into action as Fa has cut his thin tape, then he has more of a grip and a Fa clip. Junior is dripping from the eye, though, and Parker finds a good mix near the end of the globe to edge back in front 86-85.
Visit 8
Parker prefers an offensive ride, but when he finds good communication he runs in for a killer combo and just back into the Fa trap of picking it up at angles or clinching to nest. Parker is round, though, and I’ve given him four apiece so far. Four more to come.
Visit 7
Fa uses clinches to thwart any attempts by Parker to go to work on the belly, and he uses his reach and legs to damage his opponent ‘s feathers. Fa is going around this now before 4-3 in rounds. It’s a close fight, though, and it comes down to what you like.
Visit 6
Fa’s best round of the fight so far. Putting away a nice combination all the time for three minutes, and while Parker doesn’t look particularly hurt by any of them he’s cutting a difficult figure right now. Parker got some good shots in the end but that was 10-9 Fa and 57-57 at half way level.
Visit 5
This is not a good trip. Lots of clinches and legs starting to slip on both. Parker makes a connection with a couple of reasonable rings on the inside to cut and steer this one with three rounds to two.
Visit 4
Fa’s corner persuaded him to slow things down and make boxing easier this quarter, and he did just that, setting up an injection for himself and reducing Parker to a few wild lunches for a big silver bullet. Many feel a bullet coming from Parker, but in the fourth he didn’t see much coming off. He is even after four, 38-38.
Visit 3
Knocking around as the two trade big shots, but Fa is a Parker in hot water half way through the tour. He can’t go in for the kill, but will move on in the fight 29-28 after three.
Visit 2
Fa is definitely looking for this, the biggest challenge of his career so far, and has the footwork to support it. But Parker is starting to find the injection and that could be important to him here. 10-9 Parker and we are 1-1 in rounds through two.
Visit 1
The fight begins with a scramble, with Parker finding some ground early but also catching on coming in a few times, before a handsome man is left from Fa to certainly frightening Joseph late in the round. 10-9 Fa
Opening bell
Introduction inside, done. Give John Conway’s final lead, done. The seconds are out and … here we are!
Circle Parker
And here’s the old WBO overweight champion (27-2, 21 KO)!
Fa ringwalk
Here comes the Fa Junior Junior (19-0, 10 KO).
Almost time to go
The Tongan national anthem is followed by the Samoan hymn, and now the New Zealand hymn. It’s prime event time!
The cheats are ready back on stage
The big one will not be long in coming. To remind you all, Parker is rated at # 3 by the WBO, while Fa # 5. Anthony Joshua is the current champion, Parker was chosen. But it looks more likely that the governing body will allow AJ to remain as their champion until the day after he fought Tyson Fury to prove an undisputed heavyweight champion, before he takes on the title. go away. That could lead to winner Joe Joyce vs. Oleksandr Usyk, planning for sometime in the spring for the WBO interim title, promotion to full champion. The winner here today in Auckland will be in a strong position to challenge winner Joyce-Usyk for a world title.
Look at DAZN
Welcome
Halo and thanks for joining us for Auckland ‘s big card main event today, pitching Joseph Parker against Junior Fa. Ringwalks are expected for the big fight soon.