Justis Huni v Arsene Fosso: Cameroon boxer faced death for refusing to give up gay teammates

For Arsene Fosso, the showdown against rising boxing superstar Justis Huni doesn’t come close to his toughest fight.

When Arsene Fosso throws his ferocious punches in the ring on Thursday night, he won’t just be fighting to destroy the most hyped Australian heavyweight boxer in decades.

He’ll be fighting for his family, who he hasn’t seen in nearly three years, because he refused to expose gay athletes who would have been tortured by the Cameroon government.

Fosso, who fights rising star Justis Huni in Brisbane on Thursday, was one of five Cameroonian athletes who competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and then disappeared from the athletes’ village, eventually seeking asylum.

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It was finally granted for Fosso, who now resides in Canberra, but his application to get his wife and three children; Marc Eric, Elvira Iheanna and Grace Merveille to Australia was rejected by the Immigration department.

The matter is now in front of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Fosso made the choice not to give up his gay Commonwealth Games teammates knowing he may never see his family again.

Arsene Fosso’s story is one of bravery and heartbreak. Picture: Josh Woning

He has finally opened up on the ugly saga.

“I was vice-captain of the Cameroon team, one of my roles was to look after the athletes, and I had to report back to the government officials what the athletes were doing,” Fosso told The Daily Telegraph through an interpreter.

“And I knew the outcome. I knew if I told the government who exactly had a different sexuality trend, if I told the government who was homosexual, I knew what was going to happen to them.

“In Cameroon, when you’re homosexual, definitely you will be threatened, and once it’s official that you are, you will be tortured and sent to jail.”

Fosso also knew he could never return home once he’d made the decision.

“I had no option, firstly because I know what it is to be an athlete in Cameroon, and secondly if I went back home, I would have been in deep trouble because they already knew that I didn’t do the job I was meant to do,” Fosso said.

Justis Huni and Arsene Fosso with the Australian heavyweight belt. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“I would have probably gone to jail, been tortured, or worse I would have been killed, because that’s what the government does.”

An emotional Fosso spoke of his longing to see his wife and children.

“My family is still back home in Cameroon,” he said.

“If Australia accepted to protect me, it would be good to bring my family over here.

“I haven’t seen them for almost three years, it’s very difficult. I miss my family so much, I really feel it.”

So while the 37-year-old is a heavy underdog against Huni – one of Australia’s best boxing prospects and a gold medal hope at next year’s Olympics – few can match his motivational drive.

Huni, who is already being lined up to fight Herman Ene-Purcell, Alex Leapai and Lucas Browne next year before the Tokyo Games, understands the danger of Fosso.

Arsene Fosso has the opportunity of a lifetime when he squares off against Justis Huni. Picture: Josh Woning

“I don’t like to look past anyone, because you never know what can happen, especially in this division,” Huni said.

“One punch, it just takes one punch. He’s got the power to get that one-punch upset.

“That’s why I’ve been working hard on trying to counter, making sure that my head movement’s been on point, and it’s about getting everything ready. So I‘ll be ready.”

Fosso has three professional fights for three knockout wins.

After the rough road he has walked already in life, the prospect of facing a man many believe will become the heavyweight world champion holds no fear for Fosso.

“Nothing in the boxing ring scares me,” he said. “I am a warrior.

“I want victory.”

Thursday, December 3, from 6.30pm

Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane

Australian heavyweight title fight

Justis Huni (1-0, 1KO) v Arsene Fosso (3-0, 3KO)

TV: Live on Fox Sports 505

Justis mission to ‘wipe out Aussies’ before Olympics

A bold three-fight plan has been hatched to destroy Australian boxing heavyweight royalty and prepare Justis Huni for his shot at Olympic gold glory.

The 21-year-old fights Cameroon’s 2018 Commonwealth Games powerhouse Arsene Fosso in Brisbane on Thursday night, and if successful he is set to take on Herman Ene-Purcell, Alex Leapai and Lucas Browne before the rescheduled Tokyo Games next year.

It’s quite the trilogy of bouts, with Leapai and Browne among the handful of Australians to have ever fought for the world heavyweight title.

Justis Huni has some big fights planned before the Olympics.

Huni is considered Australia’s best-ever boxing gold medal hope, and under the rules can have 10 professional bouts before the Olympics. In his debut on October 22, he became the first man in 120 years to win the Australian heavyweight title in his first professional outing, with a seventh-round stoppage of previous champion Faiga Opelu.

Huni’s promoter Dean Lonergan confirmed former WBA heavyweight champion Browne has already signed the contract to face Huni in July.

“In March he’ll fight Herman Purcell in Toowoomba, we come out of Purcell and go to Alex Leapai in May here in Brisbane,” Lonergan told News Corp.

“And then in July, we‘re fighting Lucas Browne. And Lucas has already signed his contract. The others we’ve got full agreement on, we just working through the details.

“So it‘s fair to say this is a very, very accelerated path with guys who can really fight. And don’t forget, Alex Leapai only just 10 months ago went 10 rounds with Joseph Parker up in New York, and Alex took that fight on very, very short notice.

Justis Huni takes on Arsene Fosso on Thursday night.

“Alex has now got four months lead time. We want him to come into that fight at 100 per cent, the best that we can get him. The same with Lucas Browne.

“They‘ve got six, seven months preparation because we want Justis to be tested. And if Justis can turn around and knock those guys out who are very durable, we’ve got something special on our hands.

“So this is a plan to wipe out the greats of the ­Australian heavyweight division, and really put Justis on the map.”

First, Huni must take care of undefeated Fosso (3-0, 3KO), who is nicknamed “Hammer” for the apparent heavy tool lurking in his gloves.

“He’s got a hammer, well I’m coming back at him with a sledgehammer,” Huni said.

Alex Leapai is on Huni’s agenda.

he budding superstar is aware that not only does he have some Australia’s greats on the horizon, but should he live up to expectation, opportunities are set to come against the sport’s biggest names including Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

“I‘m training to beat everyone, I’ll be ready for whoever that I have to come across along the way, I’ll be ready,” Huni said.

“I don‘t want to have to take a loss and then restart again, I just want to keep the ball rolling and keep impressing the fans.”

FIGHT CARD FOR JUSTIS

December 2020 v Arsene Fosso

March 2021 v Herman Ene-Purcell

May 2021 v Alex Leapai

July 2021 v Lucas Browne

July 23-August 8, 2021: Tokyo Olympics

Originally published as Justis Huni v Arsene Fosso: Cameroon boxer faced death for refusing to give up gay teammates