Joseph Parker will return to the ring in one of the biggest-ever fights in New Zealand.
The former heavyweight titleholder is scheduled to face Junior Fa on Dec. 11 (in New Zealand) at Spark Arena in Auckland, the hometown of both fighters. The card will be streamed on DAZN.
Parker, ranked by three of the four major sanctioning bodies, is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Shawndell Winters in February in Dallas.
Fa (19-0, 10 KOs), also ranked by one alphabet organization, last fought in November, when he easily outpointed Devin Vargas in Salt Lake City. He and Parker were rivals in the amateur ranks.
“This is going to be war,” promoter Eddie Hearn said. “… There’s plenty of needle with the amateur rivalry and there’s national pride at stake. A win over Fa will catapult Joe back into world ritle contention.”
Said Lou DiBella, Fa’s promoter: “I’ve always believed that Junior Fa had the ability to become a world champion and, on December 11, he’ll have the opportunity to prove that against a former heavyweight champion and amateur rival in countryman Joseph Parker.
“Not only is this matchup one of the biggest fights in New Zealand history, it has high significance on the heavyweight landscape worldwide, with the winner closing in on a world title shot. With a win, Junior can become a New Zealand sports superstar and a worldwide boxing star in one night.”
Parker (27-2, 21 KOs) won his title by outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2016, successfully defended it two times and then lost it to Anthony Joshua by decision in 2018.
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