Coronavirus crisis reunites brothers Justis Huni and Lopeti Huni in the ring as sparring partners

While the coronavirus has dislocated families and communities, it has brought an Olympian-in-waiting Justis Huni and his older brother Lopeti together.

While the coronavirus has dislocated families and communities, it has brought an Olympian-in-waiting and his older brother together.

Brisbane heavyweight boxing sensation Justis Huni will fulfil a lifelong ambition by becoming an Olympian in Tokyo next July.

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And when he steps into the ring chasing Australia’s first ever boxing Olympic Games gold medal, he will have his brother Lopeti to thank for being there for him during the height of the coronavirus crisis.

Huni, 21, and Lopeti, 27, have been reunited as sparring partners in the boxing ring after social distancing laws forced Huni to cease sparring regular training partners at the Bethania Boxing Club in Logan City.

Justis Huni trains at home after gyms were closed due to the coronavirus. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“Since being an elite (senior) boxer, we have only sparred twice (before),’’ Huni said.

“But I am sure in the future we will do a lot of work together.’’

Lopeti is now Huni’s No.1 sparring partner and is pivotal in keeping Huni in shape during the sporting shutdown period which limits his sparring partners.

They train at their family’s Sunnybank Hills home in a gym fashioned by their father, Rocki, who helps Mark Wilson (Bethania Boxing) with Huni’s training.

“Lopeti is an ex-boxer and he knows a lot still,’’ Huni said.

“It is good to have him there coaching me and training with me.

“I really like it

“He has that height advantage over me and it is good to have him in the gym with me.’’

Sunnybank Hills boxer Justis Huni will resume training at Bethania Boxing Club when the coronavirus crisis passes. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Huni said sparring with his old brother was rare because of their six and a half year age gap.

“My old man never put us up against each other,’’ Huni said.

“When he (Lopeti) was in his prime at 17 or 18, I was very young.’’

Huni said he had always “looked up’’ to his older brother.

“He knows a lot from a boxer’s perspective and that bit of extra knowledge might get you to the next level,’’ Huni said.

Huni was originally a rugby league player and loved the code.

Like fellow boxer Jeff Horn, the former world champion who is from the neighbouring southside community, Huni aspired to play rugby league.

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He started at Souths Sunnybank Magpies, the proud junior club of the great Jonathan Thurston, and then moved to Easts juniors at Scott Park, Holland Park.

Olympic boxer to be, Justis Huni . Pic Annette Dew

He played league aged six or seven to around 13 before boxing starting to become a priority.

“It (training for both league and boxing) got too much and I ended up sticking with boxing,’’ said Huni.

“I always had thoughts of playing league again in high school, but I stuck with boxing.’’

In year 11 Huni then left Sunnybank State High School to concentrate on his boxing and since then he has carved out an outstanding career.

Huni has been a youth world champion, a multiple golden gloves and Australian champion, an bronze medallist at the world championships and now a silver medallist at the Olympic trials.

“It has been kind of crazy, thinking back to when I was young and learning the basics,’’’ Huni said.

“Achieving and winning at international and tournament levels, to think now I will be going to the Olympics. It shows all the hard work pays off.’’