Fa, fa away: Barry hits out at rival

A frustrated Kevin Barry has unleashed a tirade of verbal blows on Junior Fa (16-0) as talk heats up over a domestic clash against Joseph Parker (25-2).

Parker versus Fa is a matter of when not if but the timeline for the heavyweight collision could be lengthy with the fight almost certainly off the agenda in 2019.

The Kiwi heavyweights were both successful inside Horncastle Arena in Christchurch on Saturday, igniting calls for the biggest all New Zealand heavyweight clash since David Tua knocked out Shane Cameron in 2009.

Barry, who quickly became frustrated with questions surrounding a possible fight with Fa at a post-fight press conference after Parker knocked out Alexander Flores (17-2-1) in the third round, claimed Fa did not deserve to share a ring with Parker.

‘‘It’s a joke that he even gets mentioned in the same breath as Joe,’’ he said.

But Barry contradicted himself when he admitted Fa was offered the fight before Flores. That possibility was terminated when Fa’s team reportedly asked for $500,000.

‘‘But he said no. I’d rather fight a guy who had seven fights in seven years and lost four of his last seven fights by knockout and who is 37-years-old, come on, give me a fricken break,’’ Barry said.

Fa, who knocked out Rogelio Omar Rossi (20-7-1) just 1min 28secs into the fight, said he is keen to clash with Parker in 2019.

Rossi, a 37-year-old former cruiserweight, was a shadow of the man who challenged Marco Huck for the WBO world cruiserweight title in 2011.

The victory did nothing to impress an animated Barry.

‘‘Junior Fa’s not an option, come on,’’ Barry exclaimed in a tone of frustration.

‘‘When he fights somebody inside the world top 200, and I don’t say that as a joke, look at