[Live commentary has concluded]
Heavyweight Main Event: Junior Fa (18-0 with 10 ko's) vs Devin Vargas (21-5 with 9 ko's)
Result: Junior Fa via unanimous decision (100-88, 99-89 and 97-91)
Wrap: Junior Fa improves to 19-0 with the decision win. A super tough fight for the Tongan-Kiwi but that's just what he needs at this point of his career. His ranking in the WBO could be top five next week and that leaves him very much in the mix for a mandatory in 2020.
Final round: Fighters touch gloves to start the final frame. Fa goes to the body again and lands as does a huge left to the face but Vargas shakes it off. fa lands a nice right. Vargas looking for the big haymaker but can't find an opening. Fa lands another nice left hook and then follows with a right uppercut. Fa pawing with his jab as he looks for something .... he misses a big right. fa lands to the body again and follows with a right hook that just misses. Vargas lands a nice body shot himself ... Fa looks for a big left body shot and lands as the fight ends. Newshub score: Fa 10-9 and the fight 98-90
Round 9: Fa stalking Vargas to open the round. Fa lands a nice lead left hook but Vargas fires back with a couple big shots himself. Fa lands a heavy left jab that rocks Vargas' head back. Big uppercut on the inside lands for Vargas but Fa shakes it off. Body shot lands for Vargas and he follows with a double jab. Left hook to the body lands for Fa as does a big right to the head of Vargas. Fa with a three-punch flurry lands flush once on Vargas as the round ends. One to go. Newshub score: Fa 10-9
Round 8: Nine minutes left. Left hand from Fa rocks the American and he is down on the canvas ... was a big body shot from the Kiwi but Vargas is up at the cound of eight. Fa really laying his weight advantage on Vargas now as he continues to pressure against the ropes. Vargas backing up a bit as Fa again goes back to his jab. Vargas swings hard with the right but can't connect. Big overhand lands for Vargas but not much behind it. Round ends. Newshub score: Fa 10-8
Round 7: Much more passive start to this round. Body shot lands for Vargas but fa replies with a heavy right hook. Fighters tie up ... slow pace to this round. Fa lands a heavy left counter as he slips a hook from Vargas. Fa misses with a lead left hook. Double jab from Vargas lands but Fa replies with a stiff right and left that rocks Vargas' head back but he's still standing. Fa lands a lovely stiff jab to end the round. Newshub score: Fa 10-9
Round 6: Vargas quickly out again but fa lands another noce body shot. Vargas lands a 1-2 uuppercut, left hand combo. Short left shovel punch lands for Vargas followed by a left hook. Fa backing up a bit ... he looks tired. Vargas looking to pressure the big Kiwi. Fa lands a heavy right hand but Vargas shakes it off. Vargas pressures the Kiwi again but fa lands a lovely right-left combo that hurts the former Olympic boxer. Vargas now looking tired as Fa sits behind that jab again. Fa lands a lead left hook followed by a body shot. Vargas lands a left body shot and another shovel left. Tough round to score. Newshub score: Fa 10-9
Round 5: Vargas again on the charge to start the round and lands a big right hand followed by a left, then a body shot. Fa backing up - he looks hurt. Fa throws a nice 1-2 left, right combo but not convinced his feet are under him. Fa clinches for the break ... they seperate and Fa lands a hige body shot and Vargas is down for the 8- count and then spiots his mouthpiece out for extra time. Veteran move that. Fa going to the body at will now as Vargas covers up but the American lands a nice left hook. Fa to the body again backs Vargas up as the round ends. Newshub score: Fa 10-8
Round 4: Vargas aggressive again to start the round, trying to make the fight ugly. Fa back behind his jab now. Vargas lands a nicee short right hand. Left body shot lands for Vargas but fa replies with a lovely quick uppercut. Big uppercut from Vargas hurts Junior but he gets his composure back quickly. Vargas with an overhand left followed by a right that lands for him. fa slips another big right hand. This is a Vargas round for sure .... Fa taking it off for mine. Newshub score: Vargas 10-9
Round 3: Vargas looks for a big right out of the gate but walks into a stiff right hand. Vargas trying to pressure the Kiwi and he lands a nice body shot. Fa lands two huge rights that rocks Vargas and Fa with the offensive pressure now has Vargas against the ropes. Vargas calls Fa in and the Kiwi obliges with rights and lefts. Fa now taking his time as Vargas lands a nice body shot .... still against the ropes here but fa lets him back to the centre. Vargas lands a nice jab and overhand. Fa sucking in the big ones after that flurry as the round ends. Newshub score: Fa 10-9
Round 2: Double jab from Fa followed by a nice body punch . Fa now on the move lands a nice right out of the clincg but Vargas lands a big left ... Fa shakes it off. Vargas looking better now as he settles into his work. Fa lands a right hook but Vargas is still standing as the Kiwi goes back to his jab. Vargas lands a left hook but misses a big right hand. Uppercut from Vargas lands that hurts the Kiwi. Fa replies with a right but Vargas is coming on strong at the end of this round. Vargas clinches as the round comes to an end. Newshub score: Vargas 10-9
Round 1: Fa out quickly establishing his trademaek range and he lands a lovely short left that hurts Vargas. Fa lands a big right ... he's super aggressive to start which is unlike the City Kickboxing star. Fa lands another nice right hand, but Vargas replies with his best combination of the fight that catches Fa. Nice three-pubch combo from Fa to end the round. Newshub score: Fa 10-9
Heavyweight fight: Hemi Ahio (15-0 with 10 ko's) v Justin Tufte (19-3 with 9 ko's)
Result: Ahio via TKO - Round 2
Round 2: Tufte comes out a bit more aggressive to open the second frame. Ahio rocks Tufte with a huge overhand right and follows with another and Tufte is down. Back up at 7. Fight continues. Big right and Tufte is down again and the referee will call it. Big win for Hemi Ahio ..... dude has legit heavyweight power.
Round 1: Ahio stalking early .... throws a lovely hook, uppercut combo and then rocks Tufte with a big right hook but his chin holds. Ahio picking his shots as he backs Tufte up, but the American fires back .... Ahio drops Tufte witha body shot and he takes the 8 count as the round comes to an end. Newshub score: Ahio 10-8
6:32pm - And now the CKB prospect Hemi Ahio makes his walk.
6:30pm - Okay here we go ..... Ahio v Tufte .... the American makes his way into the ring.
6:10pm - Hey folks - they are running way behind in Utah die to some long fights ... hemi should be in the ring in the next 15 minutes.
5:48pm - Final prelim fight in action now before Ahio in the ring.
5:16pm - Ahio is 15-0 and posseses serious fight stopping power. The City Kickboxing prospect is a legitimate future contender at heavyweight.
5:04pm - We are live from Utah - two fights for you this afternoon. First up is Hemi Ahio vs Joshua Tufte followed by Junior Fa and Devin Vargas.
Ahio should be in action from about 545pm.
Hello folks, welcome to live coverage of Junior Fa's 19th professional fight.
The City Kickboxing heavyweight prospect takes on former American Olympic boxer Devin Vargas at the Salt Palace in Utah.
Vargas is 20-5 as a pro having fought some serious heavyweight talent in Andy Ruiz Jnr and Domonic Breazeale - both losses by knockout.
Fa had his toughest test last time out in California, going the distance with veteran Dominick Guinn. The Kiwi recovered from an early knockdown to pull out a comfortable decision win.
30-year-old Fa is aiming for a breakout 2020 in which he hopes to ascend to the jam-packed summit of the heavyweight division.
Fa's training partner and fellow heavyweight Hemi Ahio is also on the card, fighting hard-hitting American Joshua Tufte.
Newshub.
