Paul Gallen v Justis Huni fight: IBF sanctions bout meaning winner will receive world ranking
Paul Gallen and Justis Huni will now fight for more than money and bragging rights – with the IBF declaring the winner will get an official world ranking.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Justis Huni or Paul Gallen are on the verge of becoming world-ranked heavyweights after the International Boxing Federation on Wednesday sanctioned their upcoming bout for a regional title.
News Corp can reveal the Huni-Gallen showdown on June 16 at Sydney’s International Convention Centre has received another shot of legitimacy with the IBF putting the vacant Pan Pacific heavyweight title up for grabs.
The IBF’s decision means the victor of the Huni-Gallen blockbuster will surge into the organisation’s top 15 world rankings – potentially putting either of the Australian duo on a collision course with reigning division champion Anthony Joshua.
It shapes as an incredibly meteoric rise for Australian heavyweight king Huni, whose showdown with Gallen will be just his fifth professional fight after his debut against Faiga Opelu in Brisbane last October.
Watch Boxing Live & On-Demand on Kayo. Selected international fights, classic bouts and more. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
Huni’s promoter Dean Lonergan revealed he had received a letter from IBF chairman Carlos Ortiz confirming the Brisbane-born ‘JPH’ and Gallen will slug it out for two straps, including a regional title.
“I am thrilled to have the fight sanctioned for the IBF Pan Pacific title,” Lonergan said.
“I was always hopeful the fight would be sanctioned for a regional title, but usually you need 10 fights under your belt before you can go into the world rankings.
“When Justis Huni knocks out Paul Gallen, I would expect in the next round of rankings, Justis will be in the world’s top 15.
“Then there will be no excuse for anyone in Australia not to want to fight Justis Huni.
“The second Justis goes into the top 15, he would be eligible to fight the IBF world champion, which is Anthony Joshua.”
In the letter obtained by News Corp, Ortiz said in part: “The IBF has granted formal sanction approval for the IBF Pan Pacific Heavyweight vacant title.
“The IBF will contact you regarding sanction fees and confer with the local commission regarding the selection of officials.”
Gallen (11-0-1, 6KO) believes he can pull off another boilover after his stunning first-round upset of Lucas Browne last month but Lonergan warned Huni will destroy the former NRL star.
“There’s been all sorts of rumours that Justis isn’t going that well in training. I can confirm that Huni is down to 108kg and I have never seen him so incredibly lean,” Lonergan said.
“Talking to his trainer and father Rocky, Justis has knocked his last two sparring partners to the ground and we are finding it difficult to get sparring partners because he is starting to unload big time.
“If I was Paul Gallen, I would be starting to get very frightened.
“No amount of money will cover for the fear and anxiety Paul will feel when he knows he is about to get the hiding of his life.
“At that stage, Paul will question his sanity in fighting Justis.
“Nothing will stop the beating he is about to get and the only question is how long Paul is prepared to survive in there to get a beating as Justis moves a step closer to his shot at a world title.”
GALLEN’S SHOCK FIGHT OFFER FROM UFC HEAVYWEIGHT
– Nick Walshaw
UFC heavyweight Justin Tafa has offered to throw down with Paul Gallen later this year, convinced he would be an ideal opponent for the Cronulla great after being iced by Australian Olympian Justis Huni.
Considered one of the nation’s heaviest hitters, 27-year-old Tafa is a former Melbourne Storm prop who once played U20s alongside current NRL players Christian Welch, Matt Lodge and Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
Later this month, the 120kg slugger heads to Las Vegas where he faces American Jared Vanderaa, aka The Mountain, in a UFC Fight Night event.
Yet after that, the Brisbane heavyweight — who has earned all four professional wins by KO, and the quickest in just 28 seconds — says he would love to jump into the Australian heavyweight boxing mix with the likes of Gallen, Barry Hall and Sonny Bill Williams.
Already, Gallen has publicly called out Australia’s first UFC champion Robert Whittaker.
However The Daily Telegraph understands his promoters have got nowhere near the No.1 middleweight contender’s asking price of $1 million.
Whittaker is also now slated to fight for the UFC title in September or October.
Should the Sydneysider become champ, it will immediately rule him out of a fight with Gallen, even though he would start as a heavy betting favourite with bookmakers.
Increasingly the problem for Gallen is that he is becoming too good to challenge anyone but genuine fighters.
While his much-hyped bout with Sonny Bill Williams would obviously draw, there is a feeling from within Gallen’s camp, and the fighter himself, that the duel New Zealand international no longer wants any part of a heavyweight who has now gone 11 fights without loss.
But as for Tafa?
“If there’s a fight with money involved, I’m there,” he says.
For proof, consider the tattooed heavyweight’s rise from NRL wannabe to UFC main carder.
After having his first amateur MMA bout only four years ago, the former Storm prop then fought just three more professional fights locally before signing with the UFC, with his two most recent Octagon appearances including a KO win over Juan Adams and contentious split decision loss against Carlos Felipe.
So as for how he would go against Gallen?
“Well, I’ve never boxed (professionally),” he says.
“But I’d like to be involved and actually think the hype around these fights now are awesome.
“Obviously it all really started when Gal fought Mark Hunt.
“Everything stems from that.
“Gal then took on Lucas Browne, who is another name, and has now really brought some attention to Australian heavyweights. I like it.”
Yet despite praising Gallen’s ability to bring eyeballs to combat sports, Tafa insists his winning run ends against Australian heavyweight champ Huni, who is himself undefeated in three fights.
“I think Huni stops Gal,” he says
“I’ve seen the guy a few times. He’s come and sparred a couple of the boxers at my gym.
“And from what I’ve seen, yeah, he stops him.”
So as for your own upcoming bout against Vanderaa in the world’s fight capital?
“I’ll knock him out in the second round,” Tafa insists.
“I just don’t think he can match my power.
“In fact when it comes to striking, we’re on two different levels.”
Before Tafa fights in Las Vegas, the UFC roadshow moves this Sunday to Houston, Texas for a UFC 262 lightweight title fight between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira.
The pair will compete for the strap made vacant by the recent retirement of champ Khabib Nurmagomedov.
A former Bellator champion, Chandler is now looking to make his name in the UFC following an impressive Octagon debut where he knocked out Kiwi Dan Hooker. Oliveira, meanwhile, is also on a run of eight straight wins, seven of which have come via stoppage.
Stinging dad sledge sets up Tszyu superfight
Negotiations are underway for Tim Tszyu’s next fight — and they’ve begun in explosive fashion with the former champ told he’s been “found out”.
‘Unfinished business’: Zerafa vows to ‘end’ Tszyu’s career
Australian boxing is set for its biggest grudge match in 20 years, with Michael Zerafa calling out Tim Tszyu as he faces a long road back to the top of boxing.