Justis Huni plans on shocking the world after late-notice world title bout

Like a scene out of a Rocky movie, Justis Huni could soon be a world champion after a shock call up to fight for a heavyweight world title.

Justis Huni has landed a heavyweight world title shot. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Aussie heavyweight Justis Huni has a chance to pull off a Rocky-like upset after landing a shock late-notice world title fight against Fabio Wardley in England on June 7.

Wardley was scheduled to face Jarrell Miller, before Miller pulled out with injury.

That left the 26-year-old Huni (12-0) to step in on a little over one month’s notice for his shot at the interim WBA heavyweight world title at Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town FC.

“This is a gift, and I just took it with both hands,“ Huni told Code Sports after training on Saturday morning. “It came down to whether or not I want to change my life now, because who knows when another opportunity like this will come up?

Huni has been in dangerous form. Picture: Getty Images

“Everything is positive, and I’m just taking it with both hands.

“If I turned down this fight, I’d live the rest of my life with regret. And, I think it’s a winnable fight.

“I think I’ve got what it takes to box his ears off.”

Huni had been slated to fight on the undercard to Jai Opetaia’s June 8 world title defence on the Gold Coast, but received a frantic call-up early last week.

Since then, Huni’s manager, Mick Francis has spent several late-nights on phone calls and video conferences with managers and promoters on the other side of the planet.

“We got wind of it a week ago, but there were a few guys in the mix,” Francis told this masthead on Saturday morning, just hours after the deal was signed. “It all really ramped up in the last 48 hours though.

Fabio Wardley (L) was expected to face Jarrell Miller (R). Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

“It’s a fight that makes sense, it’s two undefeated guys, number one in the WBA and number one in the WBO and it’s Australia versus England.

“We’ve been on calls and in talks non-stop for the last couple of days and this deal came through at about 1:30am on Saturday morning.”

Huni will fly to England next week for an official press conference announcing the bout, before returning to Australia for serious training. The fight will come just hours before Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight world title defence against Claudio Squeo on the Gold Coast, and a week before George Kambosos Jr’s IBF super-lightweight world title challenge against Richardson Hitchens in New York.

“I’m going to call it super-Sunday,” Francis said. “We’ll have Justis at about 8am on DAZN, then at 9:30pm that same night, Jai Opetaia will be defending his IBF and Ring Magazine titles.

“This is huge for Aussie boxing and for Tasman Fighters.

“There were mixed thoughts from Justis’ team, just with his preparation, but it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”

A win would see the fleet-footed Huni join Lucas Browne as Australia’s only heavyweight world champions.

Justis Huni has a chance to become just Australia’s second only heavyweight titleholder. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

If he is victorious, Huni will be within touching distance of a shot at the undisputed heavyweight world title too.

Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois fight for the undisputed championship in July in London.

According to Francis, veterans Kubrat Pulev and Michael Hunter are scheduled to fight next month. The winner of Wardley-Huni and Pulev-Hunter will then fight, for the chance to fight for the undisputed title, although Kiwi Joseph Parker is also in the mix for a shot at the crown.

“That’s why I had to take this opportunity,” Huni said. “I was thinking about fighting on Jai’s undercard, but this is boxing - you just never know when a chance like this is going to come up again.

“I could be fighting at Fortitude Valley for the rest of the year, y’know?

“This will open up so many other doors as well, which made the decision a lot easier. There will be bigger and better things afterwards.”

Wardley (18-0-1), has long been tipped as a future heavyweight champion and is coming off a pair of fights with fellow Englishman Frazer Clarke in 2024.

The pair fought to a razor-thin split draw in March, before Wardley settled things decisively in October with a devastating first round knockout in Riyadh.

Huni burst onto the boxing scene five years ago, winning the Australian heavyweight title on debut, before scoring a one-sided win over.

It was an epic rise, but the victory over Gallen left him with a hand injury that ruled him out of the Tokyo Olympics.

Huni has battled injury setbacks ever since, but got his career back on track in the past 10 months with three consecutive second round knockouts on home soil.

But not even the hard-hitting Queenslander thought he’d be back to the top flight this quickly.

“I thought maybe I’d get a big fight at the end of the year,” he said. “But I didn’t think it would come this fast.

“It’s just a massive opportunity, and I can’t wait.”

Originally published as Justis Huni plans on shocking the world after late-notice world title bout