A year after turning professional, heavyweight New Zealand boxer Junior Fa is looking forward to his first bout under his new professional contract.
Kaniva News reports Fa will box on the undercard of undefeated WBC pugilist Deontay wilder on February 25.
The fight is part of a three year contract Fa has signed with promoter Lou Dibella, who has 70 fighters on his books.
Fa was DiBella’s first signing since a recent alliance with Australian boxing agent Brendan Bourke to seek out talent for him in the Asia Pacific region.
Under his new contract, Fa will step into the ring at last three times a year in the United States.
In his first match he will fight in Birmingham, Alabama, on the undercard of Wilder’s defence of his title against Gerald Washington.
Deontay has won all of his 37 fights and Fa has won all of his nine fights.
Fa, 27, will fight Keith Barr in the 18,000 seater Legacy Arena.
The 27-year-old, who has family in California and Utah, will fight American boxer Keith Barr over six rounds.
Fa, who has family in the United States, told Stuff he felt he needed to go overseas to reach his potential.
“It’s a big thing. This will be a new exciting experience for me,” he told Stuff.
“The class of boxing over there is a bit higher so it’s going to be really good.”
ESPN has reported that if all goes well in Alabama, Fa will return for fights in New Zealand in March and May.
Although New Zealand born and raised, Fa has represented Tonga internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
Fa’s father is from Ha’alaufuli in Vava’u while his mother is from Matangiake in Tongatapu.