Latest news with #Huni
The Sun
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘It took years off my life' – Fabio Wardley lived off ice cream and noodles after brutal Frazer Clarke fight
FABIO WARDLEY resorted to a diet of ice cream and noodles after his brutal fight against Frazer Clarke. The pair put on a thriller over 12 rounds in March of last year - which ended in a draw. 5 5 5 Wardley was left covered in blood due to his busted nose and a jaw injury left him barely able to chew in the days after. He told The Times: 'It's a fate that you have to accept if you do this sport properly. "I probably should've gone to the hospital afterwards. I remember being sat in my hotel room and I couldn't sleep because my head was pounding, like vibrating. "When I lay down, I felt sick. If I sat up, I felt sick. My face looked like the Elephant Man. My nose was stitched up. "I'd bitten my tongue about 100 times. I couldn't chew for three days because of my jaw, so I just ate ice cream and noodles, but that's part of it. "Those fights are going to happen and you might get knocked out, but if you carry that around with you and hesitate because you're scared of it, it could have a negative impact on how you fight and almost make it more likely to happen. You've got to just take it on the chin.' Wardley scored a knockdown in round five and Clarke had a point off to even the judges scorecards. But Wardley won the rematch six months later with a brutal first-round knockout that left Clarke hospitalised. 5 Now the Ipswich super-fan returns on Saturday at Portman Road against Australian Justis Huni. Huni won the amateur World Youth Championships in 2016 - the same year Wardley had his first unlicensed white collar bout. Wardley said: 'Huni is another opponent from a completely different end of entry in boxing terms. 'After starting in white-collar, anything was a win. This wasn't realistic, but you always imagine.' Wardley had four fights on the unlicensed circuit - winning them all by KO - after foregoing an amateur career. Now he is on the cusp of a world title shot as part of one of British boxing's most unlikely success stories. Wardley said: 'I fought at the O2, then I headlined the O2, I've fought in Saudi Arabia as the chief support to Tyson Fury and to Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol. "It keeps feeling like we've peaked and that it can't get any better and now I'm fighting at the stadium in my hometown. "I'm genuinely on the edge of a world title, which sounds crazy for me just to say.' 5
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'It's my time': Justis Huni is pain-free for the first time ever and ready to shock Fabio Wardley
LONDON — Justis Huni stares intently with a bemused look on his face. The 26-year-old sits in a London hotel, jet-lagged up to the eyeballs following a commute from Australia, and is trying, politely, to feign interest in the trials and tribulations of Ipswich Town Football Club. It's at Ipswich Town's home of Portman Road that Huni will make his debut on U.K. soil this Saturday night, challenging hometown hero Fabio Wardley for the WBA interim heavyweight title. But the gravitas of the event doesn't loom large in the eyes of the challenger as we speak six weeks out from the card titled 'Running Towards Adversity.' Advertisement 'It's just me versus me — that's how I have viewed my whole boxing career so far,' he explains. 'Nothing that Fabio [Wardley] or the crowd can bring can impact me in the slightest. It's just me and myself. If I can continue to improve every day of my life and beat the past version of myself, then I know that nobody can stop me.' 'Having 20,000 or however many booing me makes no difference to me. I am arriving to do a job — it's a sport where I have always believed I am here to take over, rather than just take part.' Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) displays an impressive one-track mind with unshakeable confidence. My detailing of Ipswich Town's relegation from the English Premier League is met with further confusion, and unlike his predecessor for this contest, Jarrell Miller, he isn't willing to cheapen himself with a faux hatred of Wardley's beloved team. With just 12 fights and 78 rounds under his belt in the pro game, you'd be forgiven for suggesting that this potential career-defining opportunity has come early in the Australian's story. But he's a believer that timing is everything in boxing, and opportunities are there to be snatched. Advertisement 'It was an easy decision to make [to accept the fight], if I am being honest, even at six weeks' notice,' he says. 'It's a massive opportunity for a fighter like me from the other side of the world. As Australians, we don't tend to be gifted these sort of fights, so I knew I had no option but to take it. 'It's my time — it's as simple as that. If you turn down opportunities like this, then who knows when the next one might arise.' In sport, sometimes you need several moving parts to align. They say it's better to be a lucky athlete than a talented athlete, and Huni feels he is benefitting from this in his fifth year as a pro. At the start of this year, he underwent surgery on his left elbow, solving a problem that had dogged him for the past few years. 'I had several chipped bones in my elbow — something I have had to fight with for my whole pro career,' he explains. 'Before the surgery, I didn't know what it felt like to throw a jab without having this painful numbing sensation afterward. I would be scared to miss, as this pain would come and wouldn't disappear for a couple of rounds after. I guess I just learnt how to adapt and fight with it. Advertisement 'But now it's fixed, I feel like a free man. I won't go into spars of fights with that nagging feeling at the back of my brain of it going again. I have been punching well for the past couple of months since the surgery, just getting back into the swing of things, and I am ready to let it fly against Wardley. 'The timing of this fight was just meant to be. This fight is potentially life-changing for me, so to come into it with basically a fully functioning elbow is great.' Despite the injury, Huni has remained a very active heavyweight. He has been moved quickly by Matchroom Boxing since signing with Eddie Hearn's promotional outfit in February 2023, fighting four times, winning three by knockout. Justis Huni punches Kevin Lerena during his WBO Global heavyweight title fight at the Kingdom Arena on March 8, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. () (Richard Pelham via Getty Images) 'I enjoy being active,' he adds. 'Staying ready is very important in this sport. This gives me a reason to train all year round and keep in shape. The last couple of years have gone by very quickly, but it has become very expensive to find opponents that want to fight me now — so jumping up into a challenge the size of Wardley makes the perfect sense for me now." Advertisement Huni was due to participate in the 2020 Olympic Games representing Australia, but a hand injury forced him to withdraw after his fifth professional contest against fellow countryman Paul Gallen. This was the sign for him to stay in the pro game rather than waiting on another cycle, and this decision could bear fruits on Saturday night. 'I have loved the transition from amateur to pro," he says. "The journey has been good so far, but I am always on the hunt to perfect my craft — that will come with time. Amateur boxing is a sprint to the line, but in the pros you are able to work into a fight and rely more on tactics. 'That's what I will have to do in order to beat Wardley. I feel I am better than him in every department except his power, so if I am able to keep him long and use my ring IQ, then there is no reason why I can't win this fight. He keeps saying he is going to hunt me down, but I am a boxer. I have fought every style in the world and these are the kind of fights where that experience is priceless. 'He can be assured that I've done my homework on him. He's still pretty raw himself and will be surprised when he gets into the ring with someone like me who he will have to work out. I know that with the crowd behind him he is going to want to lure me into a tear-up, but that's not going to work — I would be stupid to trade with him.' Advertisement Huni closes the conversation with a smile. A 22-hour flight quickly followed by a 12-hour media day has clearly taken it's toll on the 6-foot-4 heavyweight, but he's convinced it'll all be worth it when the opening bell chimes inside Portman Road. 'I want to spearhead this next generation of heavyweights,' he concludes. 'After this, it's only big fights. It's my time to open the next door.'
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Justis Huni opens up on Fabio Wardley clash: "It was too good to let go"
Rising heavyweight sensation Justis Huni has confessed that the opportunity to face Fabio Wardley at short notice was "too good to let go." The undefeated boxing stars are set to face off on Saturday night, with Wardley facing a touch more pressure as the bout is set to take place at Portman Road, home to his beloved Ipswich Town FC. Originally, Wardley was lined up against Jarrell Miller; however, the American had to pull out due to injury. Nevertheless, in the world of boxing, the show must go on. The Australian is jumping in at the last minute and is aiming to pick up the biggest win of his career so far. Boasting a perfect record of 12-0, including seven knockouts, the 26-year-old knows it'll be a difficult challenge on fight night. Huni has only twice entered the ring outside Australia and has yet to fight on English soil. Eyeing a seat at the heavyweight division's high table, the Aussie talent is poised to surprise everyone and claim the interim WBA championship. With so much at on the line, Huni has shared his thoughts upon receiving the fight offer. The fighter opened up about his decision to take the fight, explaining to All Out Fighting and other journalists at a media roundtable last Thursday: "I had to weigh up the pros and cons. If I did not take the fight, I could not have been fighting on small cards in Australia for who knows how long," he said. "I could be fighting in Australia for the next year or two before I get another opportunity likes this... or, I take this fight and just show the world that I am capable of doing and overcoming challenges like this on five weeks' notice." He added: "That was the big thing for me, whether I come out and show myself to the world now or having to wait around and not know when I will get another opportunity. It was a no brainer once I weighed up the pros and cons. It was too good to let go." The 26-year-old is heading into the fight following a stunning victory over Shaun Potgieter earlier this year, but faces a daunting challenge in Wardley - who is a much larger and more formidable opponent. He further stated his ambition for the upcoming showdown: "The best outcome for me is to walk out of that stadium with my hand raised and to be the WBA interim heavyweight world champion. That is the outcome I have come over here for and I am just going to give it my best shot... as long as I give it my best, I am happy. That is what it is all about!" As the anticipation builds for their upcoming bout, both fighters are feeling the pressure, with 30,000 fans expected to rally behind Wardley. Huni is well aware that he won't be the crowd favourite come fight night in Ipswich. "I have not really thought too much about it. All I think about is 'I know it is going to be loud," he shared with journalists. "I know there is going to be a lot of people against me.' But, at the end of the day, it is only going to be myself and Fabio (Wardley) in that ring and we are going to handle our business." The Australian boxer added: "I know it is going to be loud. I know there is going to be a lot of people against me, but at the end of the day it's only going to be myself and Fabio in that ring and we are going to handle our business. I feel like there is no ignoring [the fact that I'm in enemy territory]. It's going to be loud and I know that. They're all there to support their boy for his homecoming party. So, I think the thing for me is just to embrace it, soak it all up and just go out there and do my job."
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Justis Huni survived a drive-by-shooting before swapping Australia for Blackpool ahead of Fabio Wardley fight
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JUSTIS HUNI enters enemy territory when he faces Fabio Wardley in Ipswich - but it will take a lot to faze the travelling Australian. After all, Huni survived a terrifying drive-by-shooting in June 2022 only to win his next fight less than a week later. 5 Justis Huni survived a terrifying drive-by-shooting in June 2022 Credit: Getty 5 Police investigating at the house of Huni after the attack Credit: Getty The boxer was just 23 when his family home in Brisbane, with ten inside, was targeted with five bullets. Two children, one aged eight and one just six months old, were among those in the house when shots fired at 4am. And despite cops and news crews surrounding the property - Huni was more focused on his morning sparring session that day. He told Ring Magazine: "I still remember it well. READ MORE IN BOXING BOX TO BOX Prem star reveals he was secretly a boxer as a kid and throws support to Wardley "It was like, gunshots fired at my house then all of a sudden I had police and TV crews at the front of my house all morning. "But I had sparring that morning. I just looked straight past the news crews and just went to sparring. "Got my sparring done and then came back home to so much news and reporters at the house." The frightening ordeal came while Huni was 5-0 - with four knockouts - and was approaching a fight against Joseph Gooddall. 5 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And he would amazingly win the bout over ten rounds, not losing a round in the eyes of one judge. Three years on and no arrests were made and the perpetrators remain a mystery. Fabio Wardley prepares for dream Portman Road homecoming fight Huni has since improved his record to 12-0 and returns on Saturday in the biggest fight of his career. He replaced Jarrell Miller - the controversial serial drug cheat - after the American pulled out of facing Wardley through "injury". Huni accepted the deal on just five weeks notice and has no fear in taking on Ipswich's Wardley at Portman Road having overcome far worse. He said: "The timing of the shooting was crazy because I had the Goodall fight five days later. "I think if I could get through that, I'm sure I can handle what's going to come at me on June 7th. "Everything is all character building and everything has got me to where I am today and to be able to get me past obstacles that are about to come up like June 7th. "Everything in my life has happened for a reason. It was scary of course, I was living in the house and my whole family was in the house that night. "It was a scare but I think I was so zoned in and focused on the fight it did not affect me. I kind of just overlooked it. "Now that I think back at it, it was a big deal, but at the time I was so focused on my job at hand that I kind of just brushed it away and just kept moving forward. I think if I could get through that, I'm sure I can handle what's going to come at me on June 7th. Justis Huni on his drive-by-shooting ordeal "I won that fight and there was so much security and stuff at the fight because obviously they thought it was connected to me. "I don't know. It just shows what the mind can do when you're locked in on something so bad. You just kind of forget about it." Huni, 26, flew to England in mid May to face off with Wardley, 30, for the first time on the football pitch. And instead of flying 10,000 miles back, the Aussie set up camp in Blackpool's Sharpstyle Boxing Gym for the remainder of his training. He said: "It's a kind of interesting place. It's a bit different to the Gold Coast. "I haven't had a chance to look around and go down to the water yet but from what I've seen it seems quiet here and that's how I like it. "It's a lot better than when I was in London for a few days - that was too busy for me, too much traffic. "But there's not nearly as much traffic in Blackpool so I've liked it. "We've managed to get the sparring we need from a few local boys who have come down to help me out. "I've got all the training that I've needed. I've done all the hard work I've needed to do. "I'm just going to go in there and do my job... do what I've done for the last 20 years since I started in this sport." 5 Huni is from Brisbane but has been training in Blackpool
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
Justis Huni survived a drive-by-shooting before swapping Australia for Blackpool ahead of Fabio Wardley fight
JUSTIS HUNI enters enemy territory when he faces Fabio Wardley in Ipswich - but it will take a lot to faze the travelling Australian. After all, Huni survived a terrifying drive-by-shooting in June 2022 only to win his next fight less than a week later. Advertisement 5 Justis Huni survived a terrifying drive-by-shooting in June 2022 Credit: Getty 5 Police investigating at the house of Huni after the attack Credit: Getty The boxer was just 23 when his family home in Brisbane, with ten inside, was targeted with five bullets. Two children, one aged eight and one just six months old, were among those in the house when shots fired at 4am. And despite cops and news crews surrounding the property - Huni was more focused on his morning sparring session that day. He told Advertisement READ MORE IN BOXING "It was like, gunshots fired at my house then all of a sudden I had police and TV crews at the front of my house all morning. "But I had sparring that morning. I just looked straight past the news crews and just went to sparring. "Got my sparring done and then came back home to so much news and reporters at the house." The frightening ordeal came while Huni was 5-0 - with four knockouts - and was approaching a fight against Joseph Gooddall. Advertisement Most read in Boxing 5 CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS And he would amazingly win the bout over ten rounds, not losing a round in the eyes of one judge. Three years on and no arrests were made and the perpetrators remain a mystery. Advertisement Fabio Wardley prepares for dream Portman Road homecoming fight Huni has since improved his record to 12-0 and returns on Saturday in the biggest fight of his career. He replaced Jarrell Miller - the controversial serial drug cheat - after the American Huni accepted the deal on just five weeks notice and has no fear in He said: "The timing of the shooting was crazy because I had the Goodall fight five days later. Advertisement "I think if I could get through that, I'm sure I can handle what's going to come at me on June 7th. "Everything is all character building and everything has got me to where I am today and to be able to get me past obstacles that are about to come up like June 7th. "Everything in my life has happened for a reason. It was scary of course, I was living in the house and my whole family was in the house that night. "It was a scare but I think I was so zoned in and focused on the fight it did not affect me. I kind of just overlooked it. Advertisement "Now that I think back at it, it was a big deal, but at the time I was so focused on my job at hand that I kind of just brushed it away and just kept moving forward. I think if I could get through that, I'm sure I can handle what's going to come at me on June 7th. Justis Huni on his drive-by-shooting ordeal "I won that fight and there was so much security and stuff at the fight because obviously they thought it was connected to me. "I don't know. It just shows what the mind can do when you're locked in on something so bad. You just kind of forget about it." Huni, 26, flew to England in mid May to face off with Wardley, 30, for the first time on the football pitch. Advertisement And instead of flying 10,000 miles back, the Aussie set up camp in Blackpool's Sharpstyle Boxing Gym for the remainder of his training. He said: "It's a kind of interesting place. It's a bit different to the Gold Coast. "I haven't had a chance to look around and go down to the water yet but from what I've seen it seems quiet here and that's how I like it. "It's a lot better than when I was in London for a few days - that was too busy for me, too much traffic. Advertisement "But there's not nearly as much traffic in Blackpool so I've liked it. "We've managed to get the sparring we need from a few local boys who have come down to help me out. "I've got all the training that I've needed. I've done all the hard work I've needed to do. "I'm just going to go in there and do my job... do what I've done for the last 20 years since I started in this sport." Advertisement 5 Huni is from Brisbane but has been training in Blackpool 5 Fabio Wardley facing off with Huni Credit: QUEENSBERRY
