Junior Fa

Amateur career

Fa began his amateur career under the guidance for much of his career by respected coach Lolo Heimuli. Heimuli brought Fa back to his Balmoral Lee Gar Gym in 2006 after discovering his coach failed to show at his first amateur fight. Being born and raised in Papakura, New Zealand, Fa decided to represent Tonga as an amateur. He was the flag bearer for Tonga at two Commonwealth Games.

At the Oceania Championships, Fa featured in three consecutive events. In 2008, he won silver. Hosted in Apia, Samoa, the winner would progress on and qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. He began with a points decision over New Zealand senior North Island champion, Isikeli Maama in the quarter-finals. He followed up with another impressive victory over Australian Steven Rudic before losing out to Daniel Beahan on points in the final to gain silver. 2010 seen Fa return home with a gold medal, from the tournament held in Canberra. He controlled a emphatic win over the host nations, Alexey Mukhin. Establishing himself a 8–1 score in his favor. He again had a chance to make it to the Olympics. Having to win an Oceania gold medal to secure a nomination, he instead won sliver. Fa started off with a close win over New Zealand up and coming prospect and rival, Joseph Parker. He continued his winning path with a first round technical knockout over Jubilee Arama in the semi-finals but unfortunately lost the final against Johan Linde to settle for second place.

Fa was drafted for two seasons of the World Series of Boxing. His first season was with the Indian Mumbai Fighters Franchise as a mid season sign up for the 2011–12 season. He had a successful season and was ranked in the top 8 heavyweights for the seriers. His second season was during 2012–13 where he was drafted by the British Lionhearts and he fought the likes of Oleksandr Usyk and former multiple olympic silver medalist, Clemente Russo. He was based in Sheffield, England training along side the likes of Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce. That wasn't his first encounter with Joshua though, he first trained with Joshua back in mid 2011 when Joshua was just starting out, before anyone knew who Anthony Joshua was and Junior was very impressed with his power and precision.

Fa vs. Parker

Fa and Joseph Parker had history throughout their amatuer career's, splitting their four amateur fights two wins each. They both fought for the first time at the 2009 Boxing New Zealand National Championships held in Rotorua. The pair meet in the super-weight final, before Junior Fa defeated Parker 8–4. Fa showed plenty of promise for the future at the time, as he was also awarded the Bill O'Connor Cup for the youngest senior titleholder. The following month, Parker forced a second round standing eight count and a points win over well-performed Fa in a Samoan Tsunami Boxing appeal event at the North Shore Events Centre, organized by David Tua. On June 12, they would fight again in a amateur world class contest rematch. Showcasing as the main event at The Night of the Young Champions from ABA Stadium in 2010. This time Joseph won by a large margin of twelve points.

In their fourth encounter, Fa and Parker fought in a do-or-die opportunity to secure a place at the Olympics during the Oceania Boxing Championships in Canberra, 2012. Parker had four opponents in the super-heavyweight division, one being Fa. Parker was eliminated, Fa claiming a closely fought three-round encounter 11–8. He dropped the first round 2–1 but came back strongly in the second to secure a decisive 3-point lead that he protected when the final three-minute joust ended in stalemate.

Early beginnings

Fa turned pro in February of 2016, where he featured at The Night of the Freaks from ASB Stadium, Auckland. After taking three years out of the sport to have a family, Fa decide to return to the sport. Assembling an impressive team, Lolo Heimuli as coach, former New Zealand Olympic sprinter Mark Keddell as manager, Shane Cameron as mentor along with input from strength and conditioning guru Angus Ross. Fa fought veteran Richard Tutaki, winning in a first round knockout. Something Fa's amateur rivial, Joseph Parker couldn't do as it took him three rounds in his third bout. In only his second professional fight, Fa was added to the Taranaki Explosion Fight Night card on April 2. Fa showing he was far too good for Clint Foa'i whose corner threw the towel in during the first round after their fighter was hit hard in the ribs, his pain obvious. Fa fought in quick succession after another successful victory over Australian based Jayson Aloese, participating in the Royal Rampage event. Aloese whom was undefeated as both a corporate boxer and a professional, lost on points in a four round fight by unanimous decision. Fa remained unbeaten, extending his record to four an zero. In the co-main event, New Zealand prospect Fa won his second unanimous points victory in a one-sided contest against fellow New Zealander Junior Pati. Fa landing big punches and huge shots, but could not end the fight early with Pati being remarkably durable. Fa also switched coaches, learning off Henry Schuster.

Progressing to five straight victories, Fa added another win to his professional record, knocking out his debuting countryman Tussi Asafo in the first round. The fight took place at ABA Stadium, listed as the main event at FA WARS: The Force Awakens. In the build up to the bout, Fa injured his leg which hindered his training two weeks prior the fight. He then fought American Samoan heavyweight Alapati A'asa on Joseph Parker's undercard against Alexander Dimitrenko. Fa used his significant reach advantage effectively, keeping busy with his jab to frustrate A'asa who struggled to get on the inside. Although A'asa kept busy with his stalking style but found few inroads against Fa's defense which included some great footwork to get out of troubling situations. Sustaining an unbeaten record, Fa once again finished with another early first round knockout. The co-main event at CTP's Judgement Day, Fa fought Junior Maletino Iakopo, however the fight endend quickly after Fa's power finished Iakopo early.

Closing in on Fa's debut year as a professional, he featured once again on one of New Zealand's most promising boxing events, The Big Bash. Hosted by Auckland Netball Centre in Auckland and broadcast on TV3. Originally scheduled to fight Daniel Tai for the vacant NZPBA heavyweight title, but due to Tai's hand injury, the title bout was called off. Instead Fa fought in a four rounder against Moe Hussain. A former kickboxer, with a record of ten wins and six losses, took the fight on short notice. Fa destroyed his opponent, the quickest fight of the night, ending in thirty seconds within the first round by technical knockout. With details of the undercard revealed for Joseph Parker's world title bout against Andy Ruiz, Fa was announced set to square off against Argentina's Pablo Matías Magrini, being Fa's toughest fight of his career. With eight fights since turning professional. Fa, was keen to showcase his skills with Top Rank's Bob Arum, one of many global promoters that watched on. But Fa was to strong, thumping Magrini with a third-round technical knockout, felling the diminutive Argentinian with a series of left-hand body blows.

Career breakout

Late January 2017, it was announced Fa had agreed to terms signing a three-year deal, which included clauses for a possible fourth under the tutledge of Lou DiBella. DiBella, a former boss of HBO's Boxing set up and looking after seventy fighters, including WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, where Fa would be joining him as DiBella's only other heavyweight fighter. The deal would see him fight at least three times in the United States per year, flying over fifteen days before every bout. His first challenge would be on the undercard of Wilder's title defense against Gerald Washington on February 25 at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Taking on American journeyman Keith Barr over six rounds.

Fa won his fight against Keith Barr, of Glenville, West Virginia, en route to a third-round knockout. Barr was knocked down three times before the fight was stopped by the referee. He beat down his opponent with left jab-right combinations time and again. He dropped Barr, in the second round and hammered him around the ring for most of the round. In the third round, he landed at will, connecting with about two dozen unanswered punches before a left hook to the body dropped Barr to a knee. Moments later, Fa landed another body shot for another knockdown, and referee Flynn Gerald waved off the fight at 2 minutes, 36 seconds. The win improved Fa's undefeated record to ten wins.

Honors and awards