Joseph Parker has been on an excellent run of form lately with wins over Martin Bakole, Deontay Wilder, and Zhilei Zhang, and seeks to become a two-time world champion.
Joseph Parker is now 36-3, having lost to Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua, and Joe Joyce. The New Zealand fighter’s career is at its highest peak yet, despite it being nine years since he won his first world title.
Ahead of his major career victories, Parker had two tough fights with Derek Chisora, with their first encounter being especially close, but it was his fight before that that potentially sowed the seeds of retirement for one fighter.
New Zealand’s second-best heavyweight boxer asks – ‘Why am I training to hurt people?’
In 2021, Parker, who KO’d Frans Botha, set up his fight with Chisora by fighting fellow New Zealander – Junior Fa.
Fa was 19-0 at the time, but was unproven on the big stage. Parker’s experience proved to be the deciding factor, though years later Parker told The Ring it was one of the top fights of his career:
“It was a close fight. […] When I reflect on that fight I could’ve done more, could’ve done better. Having that fight and many other fights was all learning.”
Parker, who beat Carlos Takam, won the fight by unanimous decision with one scorecard as wide as 119-109, and another as close as 115-113.
Fa fought Lucas Browne in what was supposed to be a comeback fight, but was blasted in one round, taking his second loss.
After picking up a win against an 0-6 journeyman, Fa lost again, this time to Frank Sanchez. Now 20-3, Fa was seriously considering his career in the sport.
With a fight scheduled against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fa made the difficult decision to step away from the sport completely.
Fa, who is now also a vegan, told Stuff: “The question that popped into my mind was, ‘Why am I training so hard to hurt people?’”
He spoke of a change in perspective, and how boxing no longer fit in with who he was or wanted to be:
“I started to see the violence in the sport, and the old reasons didn’t justify it anymore”.
Junior Fa has beaten Joseph Parker twice
Back in 2009, years before their pro careers, Parker met Fa for the first time at the New Zealand National Championships Final.
Parker lost the fight on points, and had to wait three years before he and Fa would meet again.
In the meantime, Parker beat Frazer Clarke and lost to Zhilei Zhang, Filip Hrgovic, and Tony Yoka.
He faced Fa again in the 2012 Oceania Olympic Qualifier quarter-finals and lost again on points.