Justis Huni fires back to Jeff Fenech ‘can’t punch’ swipe

As Justis Huni and Joe Goodall’s massive Aussie heavyweight clash takes shape, one huge question is haunting the proceedings.

Justis Huni has been copping it. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Aussie boxing golden boy Justis Huni’s return to the ring has one big question everyone wants to know — does he have the power to be a force in the heavyweight division?

It’s a question that’s haunted Huni throughout the five fights of his career, having knocked out Faiga Opelu, Arsene Fosso, Jack Maris and Paul Gallen, with only Christian Tsoye going the distance.

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But having developed uncommon speed for a heavyweight as he focused on his Olympic dream, Huni has overwhelmed all his opponents in his career so far, only earning the TKO against Gallen in the tenth of ten rounds.

It’s left a question over his career as he fights bigger and better fighters whether his speed will be enough to last against a fighter who can knock you out with one punch.

Coming up against 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Joe Goodall — a man with an 8-0-1 record including seven KOs, six in the first round and a seventh in the second round — it’s the biggest test of Huni’s career.

Billed as the biggest heavyweight fight in Australia since the 1908 clash that saw Jack Johnson defeat Tommy Burns to become world champion, both men’s teams believe their fighter will win via in a stoppage by the sixth round.

This is set to be huge. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But some aren’t buying it.

Earlier this week, Jeff Fenech told Fox Sports that Huni “can’t punch”.

“If he could punch the amount of times he hit Paul Gallen they (the Goodall camp) wouldn’t be here. He’s not a puncher,” Fenech said.

“They’re talking about teaching him to sit down on his punches, who’s teaching him? People (his father and trainer, Rocki) that have never had a fight in their life.

“I think Justis is very special, but he needs a lot of help to go to the next level, you’ve got to sit on your punches.”

It’s sparked a flurry of questions for Huni that nothing short of a statement knockout will answer.

He said he understands that he doesn’t have the one-punch finisher but that he will rain down punches until his opponent submits.

And coming into the fight, Huni weighed in at 110.5kg to Goodall’s 108.6kg, more than 4kg heavier than his last fight against Gallen.

Justis Huni isn’t buying the power questions. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But the power questions don’t appear to faze him, as he said “you don’t have to have the most power to be the best”.

“My boxing abilities can help get me to where I need to,” Huni said after the weigh ins. “Whatever everyone says about power this, power that, all it takes is one shot in division. Imagine when I land what they’re all going to say then. It doesn’t bother me.”

It’s been the constant question for Huni this fight lead up.

After Thursday’s press conference, Huni said: “Anything is possible in the heavyweights.

“Even if you even if you’re a cruiserweight coming up to everyone’s obviously gonna have as much power but you can still do that damage. Just look at Usyk, what he did to Anthony Joshua. He doesn’t have as much power as Joshua had but didn’t change the outcome.

“So obviously I’ve been working on sitting down with more punches more but it’s not it’s not the end of the world if I don’t have as much power as other guys.

“People have got that one punch power but they won’t be able to keep up with five, six punches coming at a time.”

Goodall also shrugged off the suggestion Huni won’t be able to go for a knockout.

“I wouldn’t say one punch but we’ll find out,” Goodall said.

“It’s the heavyweights, you get hit by a 110kg guy, it’s got power.”

Joe Goodall is a beast. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But he also believes he’s got the skillset to dethrone Huni’s “hype train”.

“I think my skills are superior, I’m a lot bigger, I’m the bigger man, got a lot more power,” Goodall said of why he would win. “And I think I’m tougher too. We’re going to see all those things tomorrow night.

“I aim to knock every fighter out.”