A Hard-Fought Decision
Juicy Finau walked away from Power Slap 15 with a narrow split-decision victory over Zak Lansing — a match that showcased resilience, power, and heart. When asked about Lansing’s strength, Finau had nothing but respect for his opponent.
“Honestly, I had no doubt at all in Zak,” Finau said. “He came into this event with an extremely big chip on his shoulder, especially after Power Slap 13. Today they got to see what Zak was made of, but most importantly, they got to see what I was made of.”
Despite taking four strikes instead of three due to a flinch call, Finau held strong throughout the battle.
“Zak’s an absolute animal. He hits like a dump truck — I felt every single one of those hits. It took real willpower to keep standing,” he added.
Overcoming Adversity and Staying Composed
The bout wasn’t without controversy, as Finau was penalized for a flinch in the early rounds. However, he remained composed and focused on the task at hand.
“I didn’t even realize I flinched,” Finau explained. “Everything happens so fast up there. I was just listening to my coach, focusing on fixing that heel lift and making sure I was getting from point A to point B as fast and hard as possible.”
While some believed Zak may have moved during the exchange, Finau chose not to dwell on it — trusting the officials’ judgment.
Waiting on the Judges’ Call
Heading to the scorecards, Finau admitted he wasn’t entirely confident due to the earlier foul.
“Honestly, I wasn’t that confident because of the flinch call,” he said. “But I trusted my training and my ability to take a hit and give one back.”
In the end, the judges sided with Finau, giving him a crucial win in the surging super heavyweight division.
“A huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” he said. “I treated Zak like the champion. To come away with this win just proves that the work I’ve been putting in is paying off.”
Calling Out Kalani — A Clash for the Culture
With his momentum growing, Juicy Finau has his sights set on a fellow Tongan powerhouse — Kalani Vakameilalo.
“Kalani — fellow lion, fellow Tongan — that’s the one I want,” Finau said with a grin. “It’s bigger than both of us. It’d be for the culture — two Tongan athletes going head-to-head on the world stage. It’s history waiting to be made.”
He also made sure to acknowledge his previous rival, Micah, joking,
“Micah already whooped my ass, so now it’s time to step it up!”
A Win for the Culture
Finau’s grit and humility resonated with fans and fellow competitors alike. While his calm demeanor may fool some, he reminded everyone that his competitive fire burns deep.
“A lot of people look at me like I’m soft-spoken, but don’t push me,” he said. “I’m not a killer, but I’ll do what I need to when that bell rings.”
With his victory over Zak Lansing, Juicy Finau continues to cement his place as one of Power Slap’s most dangerous and respected super heavyweights — representing Tonga, resilience, and heart every step of the way.