Australia’s top heavyweight Justis Huni records most brutal win of his career after promising a new knockout style

They said he had no power. They said he couldn’t bang. But Australia’s heavyweight rising star Justis Huni has showcased his new aggressive style with a savage second-round TKO.

Australia’s number one heavyweight boxer Justis Huni destroyed Troy Pilcher. Picture: Liam Kidston

He promised destruction. He vowed to unleash a devastating new style.

Justis Huni has delivered.

Australia’s heavyweight golden boy has silenced his critics by producing the most savage performance of his career — a brutal second-round TKO of hapless Gold Coast rival Troy Pilcher on Thursday night.

The heavyweight bout at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall didn’t even last six minutes as Huni pulverised Pilcher, showcasing a new level of power to record his 10th consecutive career victory.

Troy Pilcher (right) was no match for a new-look Justis Huni after lasting just two rounds. Picture: Liam Kidston

Huni has been derided for lacking the knockout power to be a serious world-title challenger but the 25-year-old pledged to be a more destructive fighter and he backed up his words.

While Pilcher (9-1-1) was always a huge outsider, Huni showed why he is one of the heavyweight division’s most promising prospects as he brutally tortured the ‘Titan’.

In his first fight in Australia in almost two years, the Brisbane-born Huni weathered an early first-round storm from Pilcher before flexing his muscle in the second, vindicating his decision to adopt a more aggressive style.

“I want to get my opponents out of there, you don’t get paid overtime in this sport,” said Huni, who retained his WBO global heavyweight title.

“I knew he was going to come out strong and put it all out there. I just had to find my distance and pick my punches.

“I’m one step closer to my dream of being the heavyweight champion of the world.

“I got the job done — I’m onto the next fight now.”

Justis Huni wants to be more of a knockout artist after his 10-round slugfest with Kiki Leutele in 2022.

Entering the Pilcher showdown, Huni had gone the full 10 rounds in six consecutive bouts, including recent slugfests with Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerena, who almost stopped the Australian in the final 90 seconds of their fight in March.

Huni believes to have any chance of winning a world title in the land of the giants, he can’t just rely on his trademark finesse and footwork. He needs to blast opponents out of the ring.

Pilcher felt the sting. The underdog started well early and tried to smother Huni on the inside, but when ‘JPH’ found space, the demolition work began.

Huni rocked Pilcher late in the second round with a massive overhand left before going for the jugular, unloading a flurry of blows as the towel came in with the Titan slumped in the corner.

“Huni has been focusing on sitting down on his punches,” said Australia’s cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia in DAZN commentary. “He looked a lot stronger in the clinch.”

Brisbane-born Justis Huni believes he has the skill, speed and power to challenge for a world title.

Huni wants two more fights this year, preferably against world-ranked heavyweights, and his manager Mick Francis said the 112kg young gun has put the world on notice.

“This is exactly what Justis has been training for,” Francis said.

“Justis has been bagged for not having power for quite a while, but his new style will suit him a lot more.

“Some of his bodyshots, I could feel it from the crowd, they were awesome.

“Look out for the future. This is just the start of things. He will go ahead in leaps and bounds after that particular fight.

“We love his new style.”

Originally published as Australia’s top heavyweight Justis Huni records most brutal win of his career after promising a new knockout style