Fight Club: Justis Huni heading to USA, all the latest boxing and UFC news
Justis Huni is set to take the next major step in his boxing career – plus all the latest breaking news on the biggest names in Australian boxing and the UFC.
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Justis Huni’s boxing education is about to ramp up a notch. So is that of his father and trainer Rocki.
Over the next month, the pair will work out on the west coast of America under the watchful gaze of some of the biggest names in the sport.
Fellow Australian Justin Fortune is based in Los Angeles and has worked with Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao.
Abel Sanchez has presided over the career of middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin.
Sparring partners, in short supply in Australia, will be of the highest quality.
Huni is scheduled to make his comeback from hand surgery in February against fellow undefeated heavyweight Jo Goodall.
He and his father insist he will be in the best shape of his career.
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“We need the rounds,” Rocki said.
“We can’t get the (sparring) rounds here in Australia. Obviously we will get to meet Justin Fortune but we want to have the opportunity to train with Abel Sanchez as well.
“We’re excited to learn and get some decent rounds. It is huge for me (as his trainer). That is why I am excited — getting over there and picking the brains of those guys who have got to the top.”
In all likelihood, the pair will also cross paths with legendary trainer Freddie Roach, whose stable has included Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Chavez, and James Toney.
The priority is for Justis to get the quality sparring he needs to ensure he is ready to take on the biggest challenge of his professional career thus far.
Goodall is trained by Kiwi Kevin Barry, who oversaw Joseph Parker’s ascent to the world title.
“Justis is going to be over there sparring some good guys that have shared the ring with world champions,” Rocki said.
“Right now, Justis is fit but not ring fit. That is the whole purpose of this trip.
“He is in good shape. He had his first sparring sessions a couple of weeks ago.
“His hand is fine, he is hitting the bag hard.”
Rocki Huni has been overseas just once in the past 40 years.
That was nearly a decade ago when he flew back to Tonga to see his extended family.
Unlike his father, Justis Huni clocked up plenty of the frequent flyer points during his decorated amateur career, that came to an end when injury forced him to miss the Tokyo Olympics.
“I went over and trained at the US Olympic training centre but this is different — first time as a professional,” Justis said.
“It is very exciting. I can’t wait to get over the mix it with them, learning and getting some rounds in with other top boxers.
“I am not too worried about who it is.”
FIGHT CLUB: AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER BOXING/UFC COLUMN
Jamie Pandaram and Nick Walshaw
LEILUA REVEALS COVID PRECAUTIONS
Joseph Leilua is using an inhaler daily to open his lungs after recovering from Covid, but believes he will be fully fit for his fight against Chris Heighington on the Paul Gallen vs Darcy Lussick undercard
“I’ve definitely still got to take medicine, it’s just Panadol and I’ve got an inhaler to make sure I can open my lungs up,” Leilua said.
“I’ve never used an inhaler before but it’s because of the Covid.
“It’s just precaution, I’ve got to take that every day. But I feel fine.
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“It’s slowly getting better, I should be ready to go by the 22nd.
“In the heavyweights it only takes one punch, I’ll be going in there to knock him out.”
Like the main event on December 22, Leilua vs Heighington will be fought over three two-minute rounds.
Heighington is the much smaller man but is taking inspiration from the children he coaches.
“I train a lot of kids in the CHSP (Chris Heighington Sports Performance) footy, a lot of surfers, and it’s ‘If I can, you can’, I’m trying to lead that,” Heighington said.
“You don’t have to be the most talented, you can be the hardest worker.
“I want to show that on the night and take it back to all the kids I train and surfers I train, that anything is possible if you work hard.”
Tim Tszyu’s promoters No Limit Boxing have jetted off to the United States to negotiate the Australian star’s first fight in America in February.
Brothers Matt and George Rose will meet with key officials and promoters to discuss a potential world title eliminator in the States early next year.
Much is dependent upon the proposed unification rematch between Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano for the super-welterweight crown.
They fought to a draw last July and the rematch has taken an age to organise, but interestingly, both Charlo and Castano’s Wikipedia pages are now updated to say they will fight again on February 26 at the Toyota Centre in Houston.
If that is confirmed, Tszyu could be a co-feature on that card, as a means to build his profile in the US and set him up to fight the winner of Charlo-Castano 2.
Americans Tony Harrison and Terrell Gausha have previously been discussed as possible opponents for Tszyu, however promotional giants PBC will also want a say on the situation, given they handle Charlo and Castano.
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NEW unified world champion George Kambosos Jr touches down in Sydney on Thursday morning with his lightweight belts, and speculation is already swirling that his first title defence could be against a local.
Kambosos Jr stunned the boxing world with his split decision victory over Teofimo Lopez in New York, and then spent time scoping out rivals Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis.
But Kambosos Jr can opt for a voluntary defence before he faces either of them, and Australian fighters Jacob Ng and Brock Jarvis have been rumoured as opponents.
Jarvis (20-0, 18KO) is trained by legend Jeff Fenech and stepped up to lightweight in his previous bout – a stoppage win over Mexican Alejandro Frias in California.
Ng (15-0, 11KO) is the IBF International and WBO Oriental lightweight champion, however he is contracted to face two-time former world champion Billy Dib next March.
Dib (47-6, 27KO) has previously held the IBF featherweight and IBO super featherweight titles, but step up as high as welterweight to fight Amir Khan in 2019.
Dib sees his fight against Ng, on March 19 on the Gold Coast, as a path for a third world title tilt.
“My sole focus is on Jacob Ng, but like the remainder of the boxing world the eyes are on the prize,” Dib said.
“And that prize is the undisputed lightweight championship.”
Kambosos Jr’s camp have been in talks with Qudos Bank Arena at Sydney Olympic Park to stage his debut title defence, which would be his first bout on home soil since 2017.
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INTERESTING to see Israel Adesanya’s team suggesting this past week that the blockbuster title rematch with Robert Whittaker could be “pushed back” – given the Australian has not only signed his bout agreement but started promotional work for their UFC 271 showdown.
While UFC officials are yet to announce the February headliner, which will take place in Houston, Texas, it seems the mental games are already underway in earnest.
In an interview with popular Australian podcast Submission Radio, Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman took a shot at both Whittaker and his manager Titus Day who he suggested were “panicking” about the bout going ahead as scheduled.
Bareman went on to say the fight could be delayed a few months because “maybe we’re working on something different, maybe if we can delay this fight by a few months we can have it in a big stadium in Australia”.
Nobody from Team Whittaker would be drawn on the comments this week but reconfirmed with this column that they had not only signed a UFC 271 bout agreement weeks ago, but had also provided the company with Visa requirements to fight Stateside.
Around the time of Bareman’s comments, Whittaker was also being shadowed by a UFC film crew for promotional footage for UFC 271, the details of which are expected to finally be confirmed this weekend.
As part of his early preparations, Australia’s first UFC champion has spent the past week training in private at his sprawling new Smeaton Grange gym, which opens to the public this Saturday.
The state-of-the-art facility is set to become Australia’s premier fight factory and will also be used by reigning NRL premiers Penrith, who employ Whittaker as part of their wrestling staff.
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MT DRUITT slugger Tai Tuivasa has revealed he personally texted UFC rival Augusto Sakai to ensure their exciting heavyweight banger still went ahead at UFC 269 this Sunday.
Speaking with Fight Club shortly before flying out of Dubai, where he has lived and trained for much of this year, Tuivasa explained how he reached out to the Brazilian within hours of their bout seemingly being cancelled.
Initially, the duo were to fight at a UFC event in November, however Tuivasa encountered a series of problems when trying to update his US visa.
“So he was the first person I messaged about it all,” Tuivasa said.
“I told him ‘bra, I haven’t got my Visa yet and I want you to be first to know’.
“Because I’m not a guy who pulls out of fights. (Laughs) Or not unless one hand is hanging off or whatever.
“So I just told him ‘no matter what happens don’t you let anyone tell you I was pulling out’.
“And I actually like Augusto.
“He’s a quiet guy who just goes in there and does his work.
“And he just (texted back) saying ‘sweet bro, we will wait to see what UFC says’.”
Thankfully, when Tuivasa got his Visa issue sorted, UFC executives quickly rescheduled their bout for what will now be the company’s last major Pay-Per-View event of this year.
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STILL on Tuivasa, the UFC heavyweight has taken on the role of promoter over the past fortnight in a bid to get good mate Junior Tafa on the undercard of Paul Gallen’s December headliner.
While Tafa is keen to break into the UFC, and has already been booked to appear on Dana White’s Contender Series midway through next year, he is looking to stay busy with a boxing event.
Given Tuiavasa is managed by Matt and George Rose of No Limit Boxing, he has been urging the promoters to find room on the undercard of their upcoming Sydney event for the rising knockout artist.
“Junior’s like my little brother,” Tuivasa said of his mate and sparring partner.
“And he can bang, don’t worry about that.
“He’s really dangerous with them hands.
“We were trying to get Junior in there with Paul Gallen but I think everyone wants to get in there with him.”
Tuiavsa was in the corner of another good friend, and mentor, Mark Hunt on the night he was beaten on points by Gallen, despite seriously rocking the NSW Origin great at one point.
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HARRY Garside will have two major reasons to celebrate in the coming fortnight.
The Olympic bronze medallist makes his professional debut on December 22 against Sachin Mudaliar.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to have a beer and eat the Christmas turkey on Christmas Day,” Garside said.
“I’ve always had tournaments the last few years early in the year, January, February or March.
“I’m strict, I don’t drink or eat bad food three months out from a fight. At least this year, fighting a few days before Christmas, I’ll be able to enjoy a few beers, mum always puts up an amazing feast, the turkey, the best desserts, I cannot wait.
“I’ve got the biggest sweet tooth so it’s tough when you’re cutting weight, but I like to sacrifice. This is a job, you have to do these things.
“I like to be strict for three months then enjoy myself afterwards.”
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OLYMPIAN Paulo Aokuso has made the decision to turn professional.
Aokuso was alongside Garside at the Tokyo Games, losing a controversial split decision in the round of 16 to Spain’s Gazi Jalidov.
Having contemplated his next step, the Brisbane-based fighter has relocated to Sydney to work with trainers Lincoln Hudson and Fidel Tukel.
Aukuso, 24, plans to debut early next year in the light-heavyweight division.
“His potential is limitless,” Tukel said.
“He is one of the most naturally gifted boxers we’ve come across and we expect him to make a real statement to the rest of the light-heavyweight division within his first five fights.”
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IT’S a family affair for the Lussicks on December 22, with Darcy facing Paul Gallen and younger brother Freddy on the undercard against Taylan May, and it won’t be the last time.
Roosters hooker Freddy confirmed that he intends to pursue boxing in his off-seasons beyond this bout.
“I’m hoping to perform really well in this one, and then keep boxing after,” he said.
“I’ve never had a fight before, but I’m training really well.
“Footy training is during the day and then I do the boxing in the afternoon.”
Darcy has already spoken of his desire to defeat Gallen and continue professional boxing as a full-time career, having now retired from rugby league.
Their father Jason Lussick is helping prepare both for their respective bouts at The Star in Sydney.
“It’s good to have them both on the same card, they’ve enjoyed the journey together,’ Jason Lussick said.
“It’s full on, it’s consumed us every day.
“I’ve always believed if you’re well prepared, nine times out of 10 you’ll get the outcome, so I’m big on preparation.
“Freddy is very well prepared, he’s raring to go. With Darcy, we’ve changed our training style a little bit because it’s such a short time, but we’re happy with where we’re at.”
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AUCKLAND flyweight Kai Kara-France has wrestled in his garage, run sandhills, even done 1000 burpees across three days as part of a unique backyard training camp for Sunday’s hyped UFC 269 bout against Cody Garbrandt.
Currently ranked 6th among flyweights, Kara-France is preparing to catapult himself into a title shot by beating Garbrandt, who is himself dropping down from a bantamweight division where he was champion in 2016.
However given the tough Covid restrictions in New Zealand, the fighter has been forced to do almost all his training for the Las Vegas bout in his makeshift garage gym.
At one point, the Kiwi even spent part of one week throwing in 365 burpees a day just to “get comfortable being uncomfortable”.
Asked how else he prepared for a fight while basically in lockdown, Kara-France continued: “Find the biggest sand dune you can – then run it 10 times.”
In another unique twist, Kara-France has also made the trip Stateside with his wife Chardae and son Cobi, still only nine months old.
5 days Ⱐ#ufc269#teamdontblink🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/vTfIRTXR6Z
— Kai Kara France (@kaikarafrance) December 7, 2021
The fighter said given, initially, he had no idea when he would be able to return to New Zealand after the fight because of travel restrictions, he wanted them all together.
“My family is everything to me,” says Kara-France, who only recently learned the trio will fly home after the fight in January.
“And initially, I didn’t know if I went overseas when I would see them.
“So I’d rather we all take this journey together. These are precious moments that I wouldn’t get back.”
Despite his unique preparation, the 28-year-old is confident of beating Garbrandt in a showdown he has dubbed “a title eliminator”.
“It’s a fun fight that can only go one way – violence,” he said.
“Both of us meeting in the middle of the Octagon and swinging.
“And that’s what I plan on doing.
“Not being reckless but aggressive, using my speed and putting it on Cody.
“I want to make people aware I’m a contender for this title.”
The TAB has Kara-France as the $1.70 favourite, with Garbrandt wider at $2.10.
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