Olympic boxer Justis Huni self-isolates as he awaits result of coronavirus test
Super-heavyweight Justis Huni has gone into self isolation and is awaiting results of a coronavirus test immediately after qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.
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Australia’s big hope for Olympic boxing gold in Tokyo, Justis Huni, has put himself into self-isolation after a coronavirus test at Brisbane’s QE II Hospital.
He was advised to self-isolate by Boxing Australia after taking a silver medal at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Amman, Jordan last week.
In his opening fight in Jordan the 108kg, 20-year-old beat Leuila Mau'u from the New Zealand team which had prepared for the tournament at a training camp in virus-ravaged Italy.
Huni’s father and co-trainer Rocki Huni said the Olympic hope was ``coughing a little bit’’ after coming back to Brisbane last Friday and that Boxing Australia had advised him to have a test for the virus which he did on Tuesday.
``We’re still waiting for the results but even though Justis is feeling better he has gone into self-isolation as a means of protecting everyone else just in case,’’ Rocki Huni said.
``If the test comes back all clear he will start training again on Monday.’’
Australia has never won an Olympic gold medal but Huni is chasing that dream, with the Australian Olympic Committee saying it remains focused on sending a team to the Tokyo Games that start on July 24.
Huni, the world No. 3, came away with a silver medal from Amman, losing on points in the final to the 201cm southpaw Bakhodir Jalolov, the world No. 1, from Uzbekistan.
Jalolov, who has also won all six of his professional fights, is based in New York, where in non-virus times he has an army of world-class sparring partners.
A lack of regular top-class opponents is one of the big hurdles Huni faces in the lead-up to Tokyo.
``It’s tough getting top sparring partners all the time in Australia,’’ Rocki Huni said, ``and with travel bans it makes it harder for Australian boxers to prepare while fighters such as Jalolov have a lot of great fighters on their door step.
``But Justis came away from the tournament very confident he will do Australia proud in Tokyo.
``He went into the fight flat because he didn’t have a lot of rounds before the final but Jalolov had no more power than other guys Justis has fought and he feels that he has the weapons to beat him if they meet again.
``Hopefully he gets the right preparation before the Games.’’
Originally published as Olympic boxer Justis Huni self-isolates as he awaits result of coronavirus test