Piastri wins the Spanish Grand Prix to extend championship lead
Australia's Oscar Piastri has driven a flawless race to win the Spanish Grand Prix from pole and extend his lead in the Formula 1 drivers' championship.
Piastri beat teammate Lando Norris to complete a one-two for McLaren at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit on Sunday.
The Australian's win – his fifth in nine races this season and McLaren's seventh – takes him 10 points clear of Norris in the title battle.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc completed the podium.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Yes, mate' - Kasatkina happy in Aussie spearhead role
Daria Kasatkina has made a big impression in her first grand slam as an adopted Aussie, both on and off the court at Roland Garros. She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..." Daria Kasatkina has made a big impression in her first grand slam as an adopted Aussie, both on and off the court at Roland Garros. She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..." Daria Kasatkina has made a big impression in her first grand slam as an adopted Aussie, both on and off the court at Roland Garros. She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..." Daria Kasatkina has made a big impression in her first grand slam as an adopted Aussie, both on and off the court at Roland Garros. She charmed the Aussie press at the French Open, called everyone "mate", proved open, fascinating and refreshingly honest when expounding on all things tennis and delivered her best performance of the season on her favourite clay courts as she made the last-16 and enjoyed being the last Australian standing. And if her eventual exit to teen comet Mirra Andreeva proved a step too far, reminding this brilliant 11-year professional that, at 28, it's hard to keep the young tyros at bay, her new allegiance to Australia has put a new spring in her step. Asked whether she felt she was now in the key years if she's to deliver one of the big prizes, Kasatkina insisted: "Well, you never know. We see a lot of examples where players they're peaking at the later stages of their careers. It's not a rare thing any more. "Careers are becoming much longer than before, the players more athletic. There is much more focus on recovery, building your body, recovering well, all this sort of stuff that prolongs your career. "I cannot expect from myself more than what I'm already doing, because I'm trying to squeeze everything I've got in my potential. If it's meant to be, very good. And if I'm giving 100 per cent every single day, I just cannot ask for more. I have to be fair with myself. I have to give a credit for myself." Could she get back in the top-10, closing in on her best position of sixth? "I've been in top-10 a few times, so I know this feeling. I know more or less what you need to be there. In my case, it's to be super consistent mentally and physically every single week, which is not easy, honestly, because I mean, we have a lot of tournaments in different countries. "The jet lag, just everything. Sometimes you just wake up and you don't feel the ball. Sometimes you wake up sick. Life happens!" she shrugged. "But at the end, I think it's important to stay always positive, when you are losing a couple of matches and then you feel that you are so bad. "It's very easy to get in the hole and very difficult to get out of it, so it's important to always stay on this right path and work hard." The standard of the women's game has rocketed, she believes. "Tennis is so physical. You know, everyone is athletic. There's no holes in the games of the girls, so it's tough. "And also, I mean, look at me. I'm not like an unbelievable physical girl, so I have to go out there and work every single day, try to be mentally there because for me, if I'm mentally dropping my level like five percent, I'm already not as competitive as I should be. "So it's tough, but this is part of the game, and my strength is to be consistent - and this is what I'm trying to do. Her next stop will be the grass-court season where she's had notable successes, winning in Eastbourne last year and having reached a Wimbledon quarter-final in 2018. And like her evident enjoyment at thriving again in Paris, she looks forward to Wimbledon with special affection as the years continue to roll by. "This is what I'm trying to enjoy. Because with the years, you're realising that it's not forever. When you're younger, you think it's always probably there, but with the years, it's unfortunately not." But with Aussies at her back, she smiles: "Yes, mate. I'm honestly enjoying it, I'm already getting used to it..."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
CA boss Greenberg's vow to protect Aussie Test summer
New Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg has vowed to protect the sanctity of the Test summer, adamant it must be safeguarded during a time of debate about the global calendar. Officials were expecting the biggest pre-sale event in Australia since Taylor Swift's Eras tour when tickets for this summer's matches became available on Tuesday. That interest is buoyed by an Ashes series headlined by the arrival of England's Bazball mentality, along with Australia's white-ball matches against crowd-pullers India. But Greenberg is well aware the success of the red-ball game in Australia, India and England is at odds with most of the world, and this summer comes at a critical time for the sport. The World Cricketers' Association this year presented the ICC with a proposed model for the sport's future, recommending ways to protect the international game. Included in it were recommendations for four 21-day international windows with no franchise T20 cricket taking place from 2028, in a model similar to world football. Windows would also be scheduled for ICC events, while other international cricket outside those periods would remain in direct competition with lucrative T20 leagues. This Australian men's home international schedule runs from August to January, while a minimum six-week window is realistically always required to fit in the five home Tests. "We've got to protect what's sacrosanct to Australians, which is pretty obviously the Test match summer period," Greenberg told AAP. "We've enjoyed that over a period of time and it is getting stronger and stronger. "You have to make sure that you have a protection view of what your revenue drivers are. "And unashamedly, men's red-ball cricket is a significant revenue driver for our partners, for both our broadcasters and also through ticket sales." Greenberg, who moved from players' union boss to Cricket Australia CEO in March, takes an open-minded approach to any global discussions. Cricket Australia has a broadcast deal in place until 2031, while the global calendar is so far only locked in until March 2027. It's unlikely any introduction of windows would impact marquee series like the Ashes or Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the wealth of the big-three nations. But it is unclear what impact it could potentially have on player availability for other nations outside of the international widows, and if it would give franchises more power. "You absolutely try to maximise those rivalries, whether it's against India or against England in the Ashes this year," Greenberg said. "But also we want to bring other countries to the mix. "We want to make sure that New Zealand and Pakistan and South Africa have opportunities to play against us both here and away. "That's part of the challenge of making sure you find a calendar that can accommodate all those things. "It is a very delicate balancing exercise, trying to make sure that you get that part of the system right." Australia's five Tests against India last summer broke records for average daily attendances. Registrations for the June 3-13 pre-sale window for the summer are already significantly up on last year, with Greenberg ready to use Bazball as an Ashes marketing tool. "We're in the business of entertainment. So we'd be crazy not to market that," Greenberg said. "We've had twice as many individuals register for the pre-sale than we had for this time last year. "That gives you some indication about how big I think the Ashes will be this year for the five Tests." New Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg has vowed to protect the sanctity of the Test summer, adamant it must be safeguarded during a time of debate about the global calendar. Officials were expecting the biggest pre-sale event in Australia since Taylor Swift's Eras tour when tickets for this summer's matches became available on Tuesday. That interest is buoyed by an Ashes series headlined by the arrival of England's Bazball mentality, along with Australia's white-ball matches against crowd-pullers India. But Greenberg is well aware the success of the red-ball game in Australia, India and England is at odds with most of the world, and this summer comes at a critical time for the sport. The World Cricketers' Association this year presented the ICC with a proposed model for the sport's future, recommending ways to protect the international game. Included in it were recommendations for four 21-day international windows with no franchise T20 cricket taking place from 2028, in a model similar to world football. Windows would also be scheduled for ICC events, while other international cricket outside those periods would remain in direct competition with lucrative T20 leagues. This Australian men's home international schedule runs from August to January, while a minimum six-week window is realistically always required to fit in the five home Tests. "We've got to protect what's sacrosanct to Australians, which is pretty obviously the Test match summer period," Greenberg told AAP. "We've enjoyed that over a period of time and it is getting stronger and stronger. "You have to make sure that you have a protection view of what your revenue drivers are. "And unashamedly, men's red-ball cricket is a significant revenue driver for our partners, for both our broadcasters and also through ticket sales." Greenberg, who moved from players' union boss to Cricket Australia CEO in March, takes an open-minded approach to any global discussions. Cricket Australia has a broadcast deal in place until 2031, while the global calendar is so far only locked in until March 2027. It's unlikely any introduction of windows would impact marquee series like the Ashes or Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the wealth of the big-three nations. But it is unclear what impact it could potentially have on player availability for other nations outside of the international widows, and if it would give franchises more power. "You absolutely try to maximise those rivalries, whether it's against India or against England in the Ashes this year," Greenberg said. "But also we want to bring other countries to the mix. "We want to make sure that New Zealand and Pakistan and South Africa have opportunities to play against us both here and away. "That's part of the challenge of making sure you find a calendar that can accommodate all those things. "It is a very delicate balancing exercise, trying to make sure that you get that part of the system right." Australia's five Tests against India last summer broke records for average daily attendances. Registrations for the June 3-13 pre-sale window for the summer are already significantly up on last year, with Greenberg ready to use Bazball as an Ashes marketing tool. "We're in the business of entertainment. So we'd be crazy not to market that," Greenberg said. "We've had twice as many individuals register for the pre-sale than we had for this time last year. "That gives you some indication about how big I think the Ashes will be this year for the five Tests." New Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg has vowed to protect the sanctity of the Test summer, adamant it must be safeguarded during a time of debate about the global calendar. Officials were expecting the biggest pre-sale event in Australia since Taylor Swift's Eras tour when tickets for this summer's matches became available on Tuesday. That interest is buoyed by an Ashes series headlined by the arrival of England's Bazball mentality, along with Australia's white-ball matches against crowd-pullers India. But Greenberg is well aware the success of the red-ball game in Australia, India and England is at odds with most of the world, and this summer comes at a critical time for the sport. The World Cricketers' Association this year presented the ICC with a proposed model for the sport's future, recommending ways to protect the international game. Included in it were recommendations for four 21-day international windows with no franchise T20 cricket taking place from 2028, in a model similar to world football. Windows would also be scheduled for ICC events, while other international cricket outside those periods would remain in direct competition with lucrative T20 leagues. This Australian men's home international schedule runs from August to January, while a minimum six-week window is realistically always required to fit in the five home Tests. "We've got to protect what's sacrosanct to Australians, which is pretty obviously the Test match summer period," Greenberg told AAP. "We've enjoyed that over a period of time and it is getting stronger and stronger. "You have to make sure that you have a protection view of what your revenue drivers are. "And unashamedly, men's red-ball cricket is a significant revenue driver for our partners, for both our broadcasters and also through ticket sales." Greenberg, who moved from players' union boss to Cricket Australia CEO in March, takes an open-minded approach to any global discussions. Cricket Australia has a broadcast deal in place until 2031, while the global calendar is so far only locked in until March 2027. It's unlikely any introduction of windows would impact marquee series like the Ashes or Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with the wealth of the big-three nations. But it is unclear what impact it could potentially have on player availability for other nations outside of the international widows, and if it would give franchises more power. "You absolutely try to maximise those rivalries, whether it's against India or against England in the Ashes this year," Greenberg said. "But also we want to bring other countries to the mix. "We want to make sure that New Zealand and Pakistan and South Africa have opportunities to play against us both here and away. "That's part of the challenge of making sure you find a calendar that can accommodate all those things. "It is a very delicate balancing exercise, trying to make sure that you get that part of the system right." Australia's five Tests against India last summer broke records for average daily attendances. Registrations for the June 3-13 pre-sale window for the summer are already significantly up on last year, with Greenberg ready to use Bazball as an Ashes marketing tool. "We're in the business of entertainment. So we'd be crazy not to market that," Greenberg said. "We've had twice as many individuals register for the pre-sale than we had for this time last year. "That gives you some indication about how big I think the Ashes will be this year for the five Tests."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
'Atrocious diet, hitting noodles': Huni's epic rebuild
Justis Huni was "mentally all over the place", fuelled by junk food and, enduring elbow pain, only able to hit pool noodles in training before his last overseas fight. The Australian heavyweight boxer (12-0) still beat Kevin Lerena, who was 30-2, in Riyadh last March. But he and his camp knew things had to change. Since then he's made the tough call to bench father and mentor Rocki, embrace the full-time return of coach Mark Wilson, overhaul his diet, surgically repair his arm and notch three convincing domestic victories. The 26-year-old will start as a heavy underdog in his interim WBA world title fight with local Ipswich favourite Fabio Wardley in the United Kingdom on Sunday AEST). Huni has been in Ipswich for almost a month ahead of the Portman Road stadium clash and his manager Mick Francis, who signed him as a prodigious amateur in 2017, reckons he's a new man. "He went into that Lerena fight at 30 per cent," Francis told AAP. "He wasn't fit, mentally all over the place, starting a new style. "His diet was atrocious; I couldn't believe the food he was eating over there, even the night before fight night. "And he had three chipped bones in his elbow. He couldn't even hit pads, was hitting noodles and couldn't spar." Huni accepted the challenge against Wardley on barely one month's notice after Jarrell Miller was injured, the victor just two wins away from attaining undisputed heavyweight world champion status. "This is his biggest test to date," Francis said. "He's going into the lion's den, Wardley's a cult hero in Ipswich. It's a big town, but not a lot goes on there so they'll all turn out for it. "But if he does what he's been training to do - moves, stays out of trouble - I think he'll box his ears off." Huni will fight just hours before Tasman Fighters stablemate Jai Opetaia defends his cruiserweight world title belts on the Gold Coast. Francis, a former rugby league professional, signed the pair as his first two talents eight years ago. "I'm just so proud of both guys," he said. "They've both had their battles. Now for both, my first two I ever signed, to be fighting for world titles on the same day, it's mind-blowing. "I went into this sport without much boxing knowledge, just passion. "We were paying amateurs $1000 a round to get in the ring with Justis. "It's been a struggle the whole way through but their families asked me to help them out and one thing led to another." Justis Huni was "mentally all over the place", fuelled by junk food and, enduring elbow pain, only able to hit pool noodles in training before his last overseas fight. The Australian heavyweight boxer (12-0) still beat Kevin Lerena, who was 30-2, in Riyadh last March. But he and his camp knew things had to change. Since then he's made the tough call to bench father and mentor Rocki, embrace the full-time return of coach Mark Wilson, overhaul his diet, surgically repair his arm and notch three convincing domestic victories. The 26-year-old will start as a heavy underdog in his interim WBA world title fight with local Ipswich favourite Fabio Wardley in the United Kingdom on Sunday AEST). Huni has been in Ipswich for almost a month ahead of the Portman Road stadium clash and his manager Mick Francis, who signed him as a prodigious amateur in 2017, reckons he's a new man. "He went into that Lerena fight at 30 per cent," Francis told AAP. "He wasn't fit, mentally all over the place, starting a new style. "His diet was atrocious; I couldn't believe the food he was eating over there, even the night before fight night. "And he had three chipped bones in his elbow. He couldn't even hit pads, was hitting noodles and couldn't spar." Huni accepted the challenge against Wardley on barely one month's notice after Jarrell Miller was injured, the victor just two wins away from attaining undisputed heavyweight world champion status. "This is his biggest test to date," Francis said. "He's going into the lion's den, Wardley's a cult hero in Ipswich. It's a big town, but not a lot goes on there so they'll all turn out for it. "But if he does what he's been training to do - moves, stays out of trouble - I think he'll box his ears off." Huni will fight just hours before Tasman Fighters stablemate Jai Opetaia defends his cruiserweight world title belts on the Gold Coast. Francis, a former rugby league professional, signed the pair as his first two talents eight years ago. "I'm just so proud of both guys," he said. "They've both had their battles. Now for both, my first two I ever signed, to be fighting for world titles on the same day, it's mind-blowing. "I went into this sport without much boxing knowledge, just passion. "We were paying amateurs $1000 a round to get in the ring with Justis. "It's been a struggle the whole way through but their families asked me to help them out and one thing led to another." Justis Huni was "mentally all over the place", fuelled by junk food and, enduring elbow pain, only able to hit pool noodles in training before his last overseas fight. The Australian heavyweight boxer (12-0) still beat Kevin Lerena, who was 30-2, in Riyadh last March. But he and his camp knew things had to change. Since then he's made the tough call to bench father and mentor Rocki, embrace the full-time return of coach Mark Wilson, overhaul his diet, surgically repair his arm and notch three convincing domestic victories. The 26-year-old will start as a heavy underdog in his interim WBA world title fight with local Ipswich favourite Fabio Wardley in the United Kingdom on Sunday AEST). Huni has been in Ipswich for almost a month ahead of the Portman Road stadium clash and his manager Mick Francis, who signed him as a prodigious amateur in 2017, reckons he's a new man. "He went into that Lerena fight at 30 per cent," Francis told AAP. "He wasn't fit, mentally all over the place, starting a new style. "His diet was atrocious; I couldn't believe the food he was eating over there, even the night before fight night. "And he had three chipped bones in his elbow. He couldn't even hit pads, was hitting noodles and couldn't spar." Huni accepted the challenge against Wardley on barely one month's notice after Jarrell Miller was injured, the victor just two wins away from attaining undisputed heavyweight world champion status. "This is his biggest test to date," Francis said. "He's going into the lion's den, Wardley's a cult hero in Ipswich. It's a big town, but not a lot goes on there so they'll all turn out for it. "But if he does what he's been training to do - moves, stays out of trouble - I think he'll box his ears off." Huni will fight just hours before Tasman Fighters stablemate Jai Opetaia defends his cruiserweight world title belts on the Gold Coast. Francis, a former rugby league professional, signed the pair as his first two talents eight years ago. "I'm just so proud of both guys," he said. "They've both had their battles. Now for both, my first two I ever signed, to be fighting for world titles on the same day, it's mind-blowing. "I went into this sport without much boxing knowledge, just passion. "We were paying amateurs $1000 a round to get in the ring with Justis. "It's been a struggle the whole way through but their families asked me to help them out and one thing led to another." Justis Huni was "mentally all over the place", fuelled by junk food and, enduring elbow pain, only able to hit pool noodles in training before his last overseas fight. The Australian heavyweight boxer (12-0) still beat Kevin Lerena, who was 30-2, in Riyadh last March. But he and his camp knew things had to change. Since then he's made the tough call to bench father and mentor Rocki, embrace the full-time return of coach Mark Wilson, overhaul his diet, surgically repair his arm and notch three convincing domestic victories. The 26-year-old will start as a heavy underdog in his interim WBA world title fight with local Ipswich favourite Fabio Wardley in the United Kingdom on Sunday AEST). Huni has been in Ipswich for almost a month ahead of the Portman Road stadium clash and his manager Mick Francis, who signed him as a prodigious amateur in 2017, reckons he's a new man. "He went into that Lerena fight at 30 per cent," Francis told AAP. "He wasn't fit, mentally all over the place, starting a new style. "His diet was atrocious; I couldn't believe the food he was eating over there, even the night before fight night. "And he had three chipped bones in his elbow. He couldn't even hit pads, was hitting noodles and couldn't spar." Huni accepted the challenge against Wardley on barely one month's notice after Jarrell Miller was injured, the victor just two wins away from attaining undisputed heavyweight world champion status. "This is his biggest test to date," Francis said. "He's going into the lion's den, Wardley's a cult hero in Ipswich. It's a big town, but not a lot goes on there so they'll all turn out for it. "But if he does what he's been training to do - moves, stays out of trouble - I think he'll box his ears off." Huni will fight just hours before Tasman Fighters stablemate Jai Opetaia defends his cruiserweight world title belts on the Gold Coast. Francis, a former rugby league professional, signed the pair as his first two talents eight years ago. "I'm just so proud of both guys," he said. "They've both had their battles. Now for both, my first two I ever signed, to be fighting for world titles on the same day, it's mind-blowing. "I went into this sport without much boxing knowledge, just passion. "We were paying amateurs $1000 a round to get in the ring with Justis. "It's been a struggle the whole way through but their families asked me to help them out and one thing led to another."
