Huni’s ‘fresh start’ as Wallace inches to title shot
Justis Huni feels like he’s starting “from scratch” four years on from his much-hyped professional boxing debut.
But the unbeaten Australian heavyweight prospect reckons that’s a good thing, the 25-year-old confident he’s learnt from the five-year rollercoaster.
Huni (10-0) will fight Argentina’s Leandro Robutti (11-6) at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on December 11.
It’s the same venue he won the Australian title in on debut in 2020, the first of five fights inside nine months before his much-anticipated Olympics assault.
But a hand injury that flared in a tough win over Paul Gallen scuppered those Games dreams, the Logan pugilist taking almost a year off and managing just five fights since.
Hunting a knockout blow, the fleet-footed Huni had attempted to change his style and risk unnecessary exposure by standing toe-to-toe with heavy-set sloggers.
But ahead of an 11th professional appearance Huni insists those days are over.
“It felt forced,” he said of that unnaturally aggressive approach.
“I just need a fresh start, to go from scratch again and build my reputation up in Australia again by getting heaps of fights here.
“I want to get back to what I was when I was the hype.
“There’s been a lot of change, but I want to get back to what I do best and that’s box.”
Huni has prevailed in tough overseas fights against Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerema before an early knockout of Troy Pilcher since Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing took over promotional duties from Dean Lonergan in November 2022.
Long-time manager Mick Francis, whose promotional company Tasman Fighters will host the December 11 event, felt Huni had been pushed too hard early and since struggled for activity given the cost of match-making with high-quality international opponents.
“Two years ago Justis Huni was the biggest thing in boxing,” Francis said.
“A couple of injuries … his first promoter didn’t do the right thing by him, pushed him too hard and the second promoter hasn’t been busy enough.
“He can be the best fighter to ever come out of Australia, without a doubt. He moves like a middleweight. It’s death by 1000 cuts.
“Justis and his knockout power … don’t worry about that. He’s the best mover in the heavyweight division we’ve seen.
“It’s exciting and I love watching him fight.”
Brisbane-based Irish talent Conor Wallace will headline the card against South Africa’s Asemahle Wellem for the WBA Oceania light heavyweight strap.
He travelled with stablemate and cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia for his latest Saudi Arabia fight, when Artur Beterbiev narrowly beat Dmitry Bivol in the main event to claim undisputed light heavyweight status.
Wallace has soared to No.2 in the IBF rankings but victory in December would also push him within reach of a shot at the WBA world title.
“The Beterbiev-Bivol rematch looks like it’ll happen late next year so we can’t wait around, Conor needs to get busy,” Francis said.
“He’s turned into an animal and it’s all mindset; he’s a different beast to what he was 12 months ago, gone to the next level.”
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