Boxing news: Aussie heavyweight star Justis Huni severs ties with promoter, set to join global powerhouse

He is the heavyweight golden boy of Australian boxing. But Justis Huni has made the shock call to sever ties with his world-champion promoter who took Jeff Horn to the top of the world.

Justis Huni. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

Australia’s heavyweight golden boy Justis Huni has dropped a bombshell by axing the promoter that propelled two countrymen — Jeff Horn and Jai Opetaia — to world titles.

News Corp can reveal Huni has sensationally severed ties with his promoter Dean Lonergan, the former New Zealand rugby league Test star who helped transform Horn and Opetaia from local hopefuls to world champions.

Lonergan was also a driving force in Kiwi heavyweight Joe Parker’s rise to world-champion status.

But that wasn’t enough for Huni, who is embarking on a fresh chapter after parting ways with Lonergan’s company D&L Events and is tipped to ink a lucrative new deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom empire or Australian top dogs No Limit.

Matchroom is one of the most powerful players in the boxing world. Hearn’s stable includes a plethora of big names, including British heavyweight star Anthony Joshua, Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, middleweight king Gennadiy Golovkin and Australian female world champion Ebanie Bridges.

Jeff Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan has helped Justis Huni (pictured) become the golden boy of Australian boxing.

Now Huni is weighing up a move to the global boxing powerhouse as one of the most talented boxers in Australian heavyweight history chases a maiden world-title shot over the next 18 months.

Lonergan was plotting that very path for Huni, but after losing a TV rights deal with Fox Sports in December, the 23-year-old Brisbane-born heavyweight became a free agent — opening the door for a raft of rivals.

It is understood Huni has interest from five promoters, including Lonergan’s domestic arch-rivals No Limit, who boast Tim Tszyu and Liam Wilson in their stable, but Matchroom are going hard for the unbeaten heavyweight.

Huni’s former promoter Dean Lonergan (left) helped Jeff Horn to world-title glory with his epic victory over Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.

Lonergan, who famously bankrolled the Suncorp Stadium blockbuster in which 50,000 fans watched Horn upset Manny Pacquiao to become world champion in 2017, confirmed the split with Huni.

“I think Justis Huni is an outstanding boxer who is on his way to become the heavyweight champion of the world,” Lonergan said.

“To be No.14 in the world after only seven professional fights is an incredible achievement.

“His father Rocki Huni, as coach, and Justis, as the world’s best up-and-coming heavyweight prospect, make an excellent team.

“I’m disappointed not to be part of the journey going forward, but I will be cheering them on to the top as they are exceptional people with exceptional talents.”

Lonergan trumpeted Huni as a potential world champion when he launched his professional career in October 2020, when the then 21-year-old stopped Faiga ‘Django’ Opelu to win the Australian heavyweight title on debut.

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn is keen to sign Huni to his global brand.

Lonergan secured a blockbuster $1.6 million bout against Paul Gallen in June 2021, but after falling out of favour with Fox Sports, Huni needed a promoter that could continue to cultivate him as a television boxing star.

No Limit have tabled a three-year deal to Huni but Matchroom may prevail because of their global reach.

Huni is expected to return to the ring in March or April after being cleared of a suspected broken hand following his most recent victory over Kiwi Kiki Toa Leutele in November.

“His hands are fine,” said his father Rocki.

“As soon as the swelling went down, Justis started using them.

“Apparently his hands were strapped too tight last time (against Leutele) and his hands went numb.

“He wasn’t getting blood flow and he said he couldn’t feel his hands later in the fight. But he is punching hard again. There’s no damage which is great.

“Justis has no issue with Dean. He likes Dean, but it‘s a business we’re in and we have to make a business decision moving forward.”