Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa Preview December 23rd, 2023
Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Frank Sanchez of Cuba will be clashing with New Zealand’s Junior Fa over in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, December 23rd. The 10-round tilt will be shown live in most nations on DAZN pay per view while fans in Ireland and the UK can also catch it on TNT Sports Box Office. Sanchez last fought in September when he stopped Scott Alexander after four rounds to defend his WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Title. Fa lost saw action in October, 2022 when he halted Tussi Asafo in just 45 seconds to snap a two-fight losing skid.
**Watch live on DAZN this Saturday. Your first month is free.
Sanchez vs Fa Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Junior Fa +1200
- Frank Sanchez -3300
My Pick
The 31-year-old Sanchez, who fights out of Miami, Florida boasts a perfect record of 23-0 with 16 Ko’s and has boxed 103 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017. He enjoyed a fine amateur career as he won the 2008 Cuban National School Games at 165 lbs and finished third at the Cuban National Championships from 2011 to 2014. He then fought in the World Series of Boxing in 2016.
Sanchez stands 6-feet-4-inches tall with a 78-inch wingspan and possesses better-than-average power with a current knockout ratio of 69.6 per cent with his last three wins coming by stoppage after the previous three went the distance. His biggest wins so far have been against Carlos Negron, Christian Hammer, Efe Ajagba, Nagy Aguilera, Brian Howard, Joey Dawejko and Julian Fernandez. Sanchez can explode suddenly with power punches after appearing to lull his opponents to sleep and has also captured the WBO NABO Heavyweight Title as a pro.
The 34-year-old Junior Fa climbs into the ring with a record of 20-2 with 11 Ko’s and has fought 96 rounds since turning pro in 2016. He also has good size at 6-feet-5-inches tall with a wingspan of 80.5 inches so has a one-inch height advantage and 2.5-inch edge in reach on Sanchez. As far as power goes, 55 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. Fa is relatively unknown outside of New Zealand and Australia even though he’s fought half a dozen times in America. His toughest opponents by far have been former world champions Joseph Parker and Lucas Browne.
He dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Parker in 2021 for the vacant WBO Oriental Heavyweight Title and was stopped in just 118 seconds by Browne in his next fight in 2022 in a shot at the vacant IBF Australasian Heavyweight Belt. His biggest wins have been against Devin Vargas, Dominick Guinn, Newfel Outah, Craig Lewis and Daniel Tah. Since turning pro he’s won the vacant New Zealand Heavyweight Title.
Before turning pro, Fa enjoyed a fine amateur career as he fought as a super heavyweight in the 2008 Oceania Olympic Qualifiers, won a gold medal at the 2009 New Zealand Amateur Championship, won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and won a silver medal at the 2012 Oceania Olympic Qualifier. In addition, Fa was named the male boxer of the year in 2019 at the New Zealand Boxing Awards and beat Parker twice as an amateur.
Prediction…
Sanchez seems to have all the tools to become a legitimate heavyweight contender but doesn’t always use them often enough during a fight. He can bore you to tears for several rounds and then explode with a power punch or two and his opponents always need to be wary of this. Fa was a fine amateur but has struggled somewhat as a pro. He bounced back from his KO loss to Lucas Browne with a quick knockout over Tussi Afo to build his confidence but has been inactive for the past 14 months now instead of building on his momentum. Fa should be able to give Sanchez a few rounds of work and has a slight puncher’s chance here but I’m expecting Sanchez to come out on top, with a stoppage being most likely.
Sanchez’s sudden explosiveness should be the difference.
Play Sanchez -3300 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Frank Sanchez betting • Junior Fa betting