Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa Odds and Pick

• Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa goes Saturday, February 27th, 2021 at 1:30 AM EST
• Who captures WBO gold and also becomes the King of the Kiwis?
• Check out the fight odds, analysis, and predictions below

Joseph Parker and Junior Fa go to war inside Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. Parker vs Fa broadcasts on DAZN.

This domestic heavyweight attraction is an all New Zealand affair, and the vacant WBO Oriental heavyweight title is on the line.

Joseph Parker vs Junior Fa Odds

Odds taken Feb. 25 at DraftKings

This bout has been postponed before, and tumultuous fight negotiations took place all through last year, but in 2021, we finally get Parker vs Fa.

The two also had a bit of a rivalry during their amateur days. Parker and Fa had four fights on the amateur circuit which they split evenly between 2009 and 2012.

So there’s a storyline component here that bolsters the intrigue around what’s already a great bit of matchmaking.

Joseph Parker’s Path Back To the WBO Crown?

Parker is certainly no stranger to WBO accolades as he is the former WBO world heavyweight champion. With both of these individuals ranked in the WBO’s top ten at this juncture, he very well could propel himself to another crack at that crown if he dispatches Fa impressively.

Though there is some present muddiness at the top end of the division with Fury/Joshua/Usyk all caught up in the mix, I still think Parker vs Fa has huge implications for the WBO heavyweight picture moving forward.

Joseph Parker’s last in-ring foray came in February 2020 where he finished Shawndell Winters in the fifth round.

The only losses in Parker’s pro career came in consecutive contests to current multi-belt holder Anthony Joshua and top-ranked stalwart heavyweight Dillian Whyte.

Since those back-to-back losses, Joseph Parker has put together a three-fight win streak and has halted all of those opponents inside the distance.

Junior Fa’s Biggest Pro-Test

This is the biggest test of Fa’s professional run so far. A statement win over a former world titlist would do wonders in propelling Fa towards his first crack at a world championship.

Junior Fa has a spotless record as a professional. He has held the interim WBO Oriental heavyweight title since June 2018 and finally has a chance to claim that undisputed distinction this weekend.

Fa’s last time competing saw him notch another defense of his interim crown when he earned a unanimous decision win over Devin Vargas in November 2019.

Fa has a noteworthy four-and-a-half-inch reach advantage while it seems like Parker has the heavier hands and greater aptitude for finishing fights.

These guys have gone the distance with one another during past amateur tilts. But it will be interesting to see how differently these two will match up almost a decade after their last in-ring interaction.

Parker vs Fa Tale of the Tape

This title affair is scheduled for twelve rounds, but I don’t see the judges playing a role in the outcome here.

There is a prop bet on this bout not going the distance, which is listed at -162 odds, and I think that presents good value here.

There is also a prop bet on Parker winning via KO or TKO at -143 odds that I think has good value as well.

As far as a winning group of rounds prop, I would lean towards  Parker winning between rounds 7-9 (+325).

I think Junior Fa’s savviness and sense of ringcraft will keep relatively competitive in this fight. However, I think eventually Joseph Parker figures him out and dispatches him in the latter half of Parker vs Fa.

Pick: Joseph Parker (-1430)