Aussie heavyweight champion Justis Huni ends 11-month horror run

Australian heavyweight boxing champion Justis Huni’s next fight is locked in, after a brutal 11 months since he stopped Paul Gallen.

Jai Opetaia and Justis Huni. Picture Glenn Hampson

Australian heavyweight boxing champion Justis Huni’s return to the ring has finally been locked in, nearly 11 months since his last fight.

The 22-year-old Queenslander last graced the ring against former NRL star turned boxer Paul Gallen, where Huni earned a 10th round TKO to get the footy great out of the ring.

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Having taken place on June 16 2021, Huni has had an unexpectedly long time out of the squared circle as injuries and Covid wreaked havoc with his plans.

But he is finally set to return to the ring as the co-main event for Australian cruiserweight contender Jai Opetaia’s world title fight against Latvian IBF world titleholder Maris Briedis on May 11 at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Huni will fight No. 3 ranked New Zealander Kiki Leutele, who has a 7-1-2 record, his only loss coming at the hands of WBO and IBF ranked Aussie Demsey McKean.

The rescheduled date was finally revealed after the original date was delayed when Briedis caught Covid-19.

It just adds to a horror list of issues which have conspired to keep Huni out of the ring.

It started back in the aftermath of the Gallen fight as his Olympic dream being quashed by a hand injury he suffered during training.

Huni didn’t expect 11 months on the sidelines. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Huni in action. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

After the recovery, he went to the US to train under Manny Pacquiao’s legendary trainer Justin Fortune, where he contracted Covid and forced his fight against fellow undefeated Aussie Joe Goodall to be postponed. It is now scheduled to be held Wednesday June 1.

Huni has previously said he wants to be active, having said he wanted seven fights this year.

“It just happens and I’ve had a little bit of a rough run towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year but it’s only up from here,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting back out there and putting on a show for my friends and my family and the fan base I’ve made for myself.”

The trip to the US in December and January was spoiled when Huni caught Covid midway through his month long trip.

The early signs were good as well as Fortune told Sporting News in December that Huni more than held his own in eight-round sessions with experience heavyweights.

“He sat down on a power jab – these are 16 ounce gloves and headgear – and he rocked the s*** out of this guy with a f***ing jab,” he said.

Huni told news.com.au that despite the illness, he learned a lot despite the setback.

“(Fortune) has a lot of experience that he’s passed down to me in training and fight experience, so it was really good,” he said.

“I was just using what he was teaching me in training and putting it into sparring. We would be on the pads just before sparring and I’d use it in sparring and it worked and it just shows how much experience he has.”

The Australian heavyweight champion is back. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Having previously fought as a co-main for Opetaia in October 2020 when Huni debuted as a pro against Faiga Opelu and claimed the Australian heavyweight title he still holds, the young star said it was a big step up from last time.

“Fighting on a big card like this fighting for a world title, it’s going to bring a lot of eyes to the arena and around the world,” Huni said.

“I’ve known Jai for a long time now but if he gets that world title belt, it opens up a lot of doors for both of us to get one step closer to the top and get our foot in the door. It’s a very big fight for Jai and even myself.”

‘I can win it’: Opetaia’s shot at world title

Jai Opetaia and Justis Huni are ready to go. Picture Glenn Hampson

Jai Opetaia will come into his world title fight against No. 1 ranked cruiserweight as a massive underdog but he still believes he can pull off the upset.

Both ESPN and Boxrec rank the 37-year-old Briedis (28-1) as the top cruiserweight in the world as his only loss came against former unified cruiserweight king and current heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk.

But the 21-0 Aussie believes he has what it takes.

“We’ve been chasing these big fights for a long time now,” he told news.com.au last month.

“I’ll always fly the blue flag when it’s State of Origin but Gold Coast is my new home now and I’m so happy to be here.

“I just know I belong up there with the big boys, I know I can win this fight, my whole life has come towards this fight.”