Heavyweight Junior Fa relies on his mind as much as his body

Heavyweight boxing prospect Junior Fa will attempt to continue his rise up the rankings when he fights former Olympian Devin Vargas on Friday, Nov. 15.

Heavyweight boxers enamor imaginations due to their massive physicality and strength. At 6-foot-5 and over 250 pounds, New Zealander Junior Fa (18’0, 10 KOs) is no different. However, in Fa’s case, he values his mind just as much, if not more than his body.

Boxingrec.com ranks Fa as the 74th best heavyweight in the world, and he’s looking to travel up the charts with a win over former Olympian Devin Vargas (21-5, 9 KOs) on Friday, Nov. 15, streaming on UFC Fight Pass.

Casual and dedicated boxing fans alike are charmed and seduced by the prospect of a knockout. Yes, it takes power to deliver a KO blow, but it’s the mind that has to endure the stresses of being a pugilist in and out of the ring. The life of a fighter contains obstacles that often go unseen by the public.

As an amateur, Fa achieved a lot of success, winning and medaling in numerous high-level tournaments. He famously split four bouts against future WBO heavyweight champion and fellow New Zealander Joseph Parker. Despite his rising notoriety, Fa walked away from boxing at the start of 2013. He stayed away from the sport for three years.

It was a surprising move, but boxing’s luster faded for Fa.

“I think I was feeling a bit…it’s hard to find the right word,” explained Fa to FanSided. “I wasn’t bored with the sport, but I didn’t feel excited about the sport anymore.”

Boxing takes a toll on the body and mind. It takes a massive commitment to dedicate your life to the rigors of training and combat inside the ring. It’s even more stressful trying to navigate the confused and frequently perilous boxing business. Fa needed a breather and wanted a sense of normalcy.

“I went back to a normal life,” said Fa. “That was a great time. It was a chance for me to live a normal life. I got myself a full-time job. I was living away from home. I got married. I had my son, and I was just going to work and coming back home.”

Making his living as a foreman at a window glazing company, Fa focused on his growing family. But the itch to box again returned to Fa in an interesting fashion. His countryman and rival, Parker,  was piling up wins as a professional and becoming known on a global scale. Strangely, Parker helped reinvigorate Fa’s competitive fire.

“When I stepped away from the sport was the time Joseph Parker turned pro and was roughing it up on the pro scene,” Fa said. “Seeing how successful he was becoming at the time, I was thinking man, I can do that too. Before that, I was the last person to beat Joseph Parker. I’m thinking maybe I should go back. I got a message from a mate overseas and he said go back because I could take care of my family in a much better way.”

Fa turned pro in 2016 and sports a perfect record. Despite his imposing size, Fa’s a gentle giant outside of the ring. He’s a happy person whose smile sometimes seems out of place in a gym. Boxers cut menacing figures. Sonny Liston and Mike Tyson are prime examples. They used their outward appearance to instill fear in opponents.  Some channel anger and rage for fuel in a fight, but not Fa.

“I fight best when I’m happy,” rationalized Fa. “I’ve tried to get myself angry, but I don’t perform well. As long as I’m happy and I’m focused, I think things can turn on from my brain to my muscles a little bit better.”

Fa’s ability to self-reflect demonstrates his intelligence. He’s continually trying to improve himself mentally and emotionally in a manner that benefits him as a boxer. Fa lacks ego and is willing to learn from others who have found success. He used his time as Deontay Wilder’s sparring partner to grow inwardly as a boxer.

Yes, Wilder’s power made an impression on Fa, but it’s Wilder’s mindset that left the biggest mark.

“I think the biggest thing I took away from those camps is just watching Deontay Wilder’s mindset,” said Fa. “His ability to flip the switch when he needs to in training. How he’s a different person before training compared to how he is after training, comparing him to how he is outside of the gym. He’s very, very good with his mind, seeing how confident he is in the training sessions.”

Boxing symbolizes life’s struggles. Life can beat you down and whittle away at your spirit, but surpassing its biggest challenges allows us to grow. Fa, like every person, has experienced setbacks in life, but his warrior’s mentality enabled him to roll with the punches.

When Fa’s son was two years old, he was diagnosed with autism. Autism is a developmental disorder that impairs communication and behavior to varying degrees. It’s tough for any parent to hear that their child has a life-altering disability, but Fa’s encouraging attitude allowed him and his family to deal with their son’s diagnosis head-on.

“At age two, he was diagnosed,” said Fa. “The wife had a little bit of a cry, but it was good that we went through that because now that we know, we know how to help him.

“It’s stuff we don’t shy away from. Some people find out that their kids are a little bit different. They try to make it look like there’s not wrong here. Nothing to see here. But it’s good to acknowledge, so you know how to help them.”

Fa’s next challenge is in the ring against Vargas on Friday, Nov. 15, at 11 p.m. ET. Vargas has experience but has lost to top-tier opponents.

“The main goal for me is to win,” said Fa in regards to Vargas. “I’m planning to learn, and I’m planning to stop this fella.”

A knockout win would certainly improve Fa’s stock. He’s met every challenge in life with a cerebral vigor. Vargas is just another obstacle for Fa to overcome on his journey. Through it all, Fa’s family keeps him happy and inspired to succeed in the ring and life.

“I’m fighting for the future of my kids and the type of life they’re going to live,” said Fa. “I just want things to be easy for them. I’m trying to make as much money as I can, take as much as I can from the sport, and then get out, so this sport doesn’t take much away from me.”