Heartbreak for heroic Justis Huni in devastating 10th round world title fight knockout

Justis Huni dominated the entire fight, but made one crucial error against Fabio Wardley in their heavyweight world title clash in England.

Justis Huni struggled back to his feet, but couldn't beat the count. Picture: Getty Images

Justis Huni has suffered a heart-breaking 10th round knockout defeat to Fabio Wardley, floored by a stunning right hand after absolutely dominating their interim WBA heavyweight world title fight.

Huni’s team will lodge a formal complaint, saying their fighter wasn’t given a long enough count to regain his feet.

Huni was arguably up seven rounds to two in his late-notice world title fight, putting in a perfect performance in front of Wardley’s home fans in Ipswich.

A devastating power puncher though, Wardley pulled off one of modern boxing’s greatest comebacks, landing a perfectly timed right hand to Huni’s chin halfway through the 10th round.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED‼️

FABIO WARDLEY KNOCKS JUSTIS HUNI OUT!! 😱🤯#WardleyHuni | Live Now on DAZN pic.twitter.com/57HyKhYNaI

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 7, 2025

Huni struggled back to his feet, but referee John Latham waved it off, handing the Aussie his first professional loss.

Tasman Fighters promoter Mick Francis will lodge an official complaint about Latham’s count.

“It’s devastating for Justis,” he said. “We are putting in a formal protest.

“The referee never gave Justis a standing ten count. How does that not happen?

“Justis got to his feet and he was in control of the fight. He should have been given the chance to fight on.

“They knew Wardley was behind on the cards. Justis was on the verge of a massive boilover and becoming a world champion.

“He boxed Wardley’s ears off - just as he predicted he would.”

The Queenslander had answered the call to take on highly-fancied Wardley on just five weeks’ notice after American Jarrell Miller pulled out of the world title bout.

Huni was dominating the fight before the knockout. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

He had a disrupted build-up though, battling through an arm injury in the final week and a half before the fight. Huni was a class above Wardley for all but the final split second, with the Englishman landing the punch of a lifetime to become a world champion.

“That’s my curse,” Huni said moments after the loss. “I even said, it only takes one split second to switch off and it happened tonight.

“Credit to Fabio and his team. He’s a real champion.

“He’s just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win. He deserved it.”

Huni was classy in defeat, and was even spotted comforting members of his own team in the dressing room afterwards.

Wardley was a huge favourite, and admitted he was out-boxed for most of the fight.

“Justis Huni’s a great operator,” Wardley said. “I should’ve performed better in some of those rounds. Sometimes that’s the way it goes. We pulled one out of the bag.

Wardley pulled one out of the bag. Picture: Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images

“He’s a great boxer. Great skills and he showed me everything he has tonight. He pulled out all sorts of tricks. I didn’t expect to bank rounds like that with Justis.”

Huni’s speed and movement were on display early on, while Wardley threw with maximum power from the opening bell.

The underdog was tagged with a short right hand in the very last second of round one, appearing to stumble slightly on his way back to the corner.

Huni forced the pace in the third, going to Wardley’s body, before the Englishman fought back in the final minute of the frame.

The former Australian heavyweight champion, Huni silenced the rabid home crowd by the fourth round as Wardley tired and started taking more left hooks to the head.

Huni’s nose was bloodied by a well-timed jab in the fourth, but the Aussie maintained his attack on Wardley’s body.

A clearly superior boxer, Huni kept tagging Wardley through the middle rounds, and was lighter on his feet. Meanwhile, Wardley looked increasingly gassed with every passing minute.

It took just a split second for Wardley to turn the fight on its head though, landing flush with a brilliant short right hand as Huni pounced in.

Originally published as Heartbreak for heroic Justis Huni in devastating 10th round world title fight knockout