Boxing: Justis Huni eyes former world champion after thumping Jack Maris
Rising star Justis Huni continues his rise as one of Australia’s hottest prospects with a savage first-round stoppage of Jack Maris at the Gold Coast.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Heavyweight Justis Huni continued his rise as one of Australian boxing’s hottest prospects with a savage first-round stoppage of giant Jack Maris on Saturday night.
Returning from a recent concussion sustained outside the ring, Huni (3-0, 3KO) was never troubled by the 206cm Maris (2-1) as he chalked up his third consecutive win to retain his Australian title at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Huni is eyeing a bigger scalp when he fights former world champion Lucas Browne (29-2, 25KO) in July and he put ‘Big Daddy’ on notice by bludgeoning Maris in the opening round.
The monolithic Maris enjoyed a 13cm reach but his clumsy style was no match for Huni, who showed no ill-effects from a four-month layoff after launching his professional career last year with back-to-back wins over Faiga Opelu and Arsene Fosso.
The 111kg Newcastle monster was slow and sloppy from the outset. Huni started watchfully but once he settled in, the 104kg Brisbane hulk shifted gears, unleashing a series of body shots which had Maris ducking for cover.
Huni then went for the jugular, delivering a vicious right hook that prompted referee Paul Tapley to intervene with 10 seconds left in the first round.
Maris exploded at the decision, shouting “I feel fine”, but the reality is he would have been lucky to survive another round with the classier Huni, who is eyeing gold at the Tokyo Olympics later this year.
Huni will now take on Christian Tsoye as another tune-up before his fifth professional bout against Browne, who faces Paul Gallen on Wednesday week.
“It feels amazing, I’m happy to be back,” Huni said.
“Lucas would be my biggest test so far. He is a big guy with reach and he is strong. He has fought all over the world. It would be a good test at this stage of my career, but I want to keep challenging myself.
“I don’t think I have fought to the best of my ability. I still have a lot to prove.”
In a gripping undercard, Ben Mahoney (11-0, 6KO) won the Australian super welterweight title, overcoming a knockdown to edge out Kris George (14-3, 8KO) by unanimous decision.
It was George’s first fight in almost three years and he produced a gutsy display to almost consign Mahoney to his maiden career defeat.
Meanwhile, the impressive Andrew Hunt (8-0-1, 4KO) continued his unbeaten run, snatching the national welterweight belt from Ben Kite (18-5-1, 7KO) with a unanimous decision in a 10-round slugfest.
HUNIS HAS WORLD DOMINATION IN HIS SIGHTS
Justis Huni idolised Mike Tyson and Australia‘s heavyweight champion is determined to channel the ferocious hunger of ‘Iron Mike’ in his quest to conquer the boxing world.
Not for a second does Huni profess to have Tyson’s unnerving killer instinct but the Brisbane-born monster is adamant he possesses the insatiable drive to one day take on another Tyson ... heavyweight king Tyson Fury.
It could be another two years before Huni, who took his record to 3-0, 3KO after thumping Jack Maris in their heavyweight fight on Saturday, gets a crack at a world-title fight.
Cleared of concussion which sidelined him for a month, Huni was in awe of Iron Mike‘s ability to swiftly bludgeon his opponents and he warned of a Maris mauling in his gradual ascent to the world-title apex.
“Like Mike Tyson, I want to try and go all the way,” Huni said ahead of his comeback to the ring.
“I loved watching Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis as a kid. I loved that era of heavyweights.
“I just loved Tyson’s bad intentions when he went into the ring.
“When he threw a ‘combo’ it was explosive and I’ve tried to copy that. He puts everything into every single punch. He was ruthless. That’s what I loved about Mike Tyson.
“I don‘t want to come into the sport and just fight in my backyard. I want to fight the best of the best around the world and become the best.
“My dream is to hold all the world titles and unify the heavyweight division.
“I know it‘s a big goal but I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t think I can accomplish it.
“I believe I can be competitive against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, 100 per cent. I think my speed and angles for a heavyweight could test guys like Joshua and Fury.”
Huni is aware of criticism that he may lack the punching power to be victorious on the world stage. In his first two pro fights against Faiga Opelu and Arsene Fosso, the 104kg hulk impressed with his slick feet and array of skills. While he peppered Opelu and Fosso into submission, there was no savage, Tyson-style knockout punch.
Huni, however, says sustained pressure can be just as potent as he prepares to bombard Maris.
“I haven‘t had a proper knockout yet, I know that,” he said.
“But even if I can break my opponents down, that‘s good enough for me.
“I want to break them down in an exciting way, similar to what Tim Tszyu has been doing to his opponents.
“I know I‘m not the biggest heavyweight. If the knockout comes, I will jump on it, but I like breaking opponents down, just like Mike Tyson did.
“It‘s easier said than done but that’s my style, to work in close and break guys down with my speed and skill.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Boxing: Justis Huni eyes former world champion after thumping Jack Maris
Aussie leaves world stunned with brutal KO
Jai Opetaia has dropped jaws around the globe with a thundering KO title defence that sets up a massive 2025 campaign.
Ugly storm as Aussie makes boxing history
Skye Nicolson has done something the world has never seen as the Aussie defended her world title before ugly scenes unfolded.