By Oscar Pick
HEAVYWEIGHT Justis Huni dreams of becoming a world champion, after his chance at Olympic glory was cruelly taken away.
The talented 25-year-old will return to his home city of Brisbane this Thursday to face unbeaten Australian Troy Pilcher in just 10 minutes.th professional fight
But while he continued to progress at a relentless pace — overcoming tough challenges against experienced athletes Andrew Tabiti and Kevin Lerena — Huni, a prolific amateur, was denied the chance to compete at the Olympics, where he had always envisioned himself shining in the spotlight.
“I have had five [professional] fight first [the Tokyo Games in 2021]but ended up injuring his hand and had to give up,” he said.
“It was a shock to me because everything I had done up until that point had been for the Olympics.”
After assessing his options, knowing that a trip to Paris this summer was out of the question, Huni put his medal thirst aside and instead decided to continue his development at the 10-round distance.
Before long, the fast and dynamic prospect had shown enough outstanding skill to sign a multi-year deal with Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, earning the opportunity to host a show welcoming friends and family.
DUBLIN, IRELAND – NOVEMBER 25: Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, looks on ahead of the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO world super lightweight title fight between Chantelle Cameron and Katie Taylor at The 3Arena Dublin on November 25, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
“It feels like I’m making my debut again,” he said ahead of his next appearance. “It feels refreshing after almost two years of international football.
“Boxing is at its peak in Australia and I am very lucky to be a part of it.
“I’m really looking forward to coming back and fighting in front of everyone again.”
Huni is one of a string of promising young fighters who are all destined for stardom. Jared Anderson and Richard Torrez Jr. are flying the flag for the United States, while Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma—albeit on different trajectories—are looking to make their mark in the United Kingdom.
However, with the weight class being so crowded, the idea of being associated with so many names can be a bit overwhelming for a newcomer.
However, this does not seem to be an issue for Huni. While he is eager to exact revenge on his old amateur enemies, including Bakhodir Jalolov and Frazer Clarke, he shows no desire to rush into any danger, knowing that the time to take risks will come.
“Sure, I want to get back those losses and face them. [Jalolov and Clarke] in the professional ranks. It’s a completely different game than the amateur game,” he said.
“I just want to get as much experience as I can, so that when I face other emerging heavyweights, I’ll be prepared.”
In many ways, Huni’s calm yet confident demeanor adds to his style, which is reinforced every time he steps into the ring with flashy moves and sharp reflexes.
However, outside of boxing, a sport that requires immense mental strength and a relentless obsession with winning, the Australian will occasionally find release through a completely different activity that takes him to a place of nostalgia and peace.
“When I want to relax and not think about boxing, I like to do a little fishing,” he said.
“My dad and grandpa always took me fishing when I was little. I loved being near the water – just relaxing.”
This only adds to Huni’s low-key mystique, which has earned him the “dark horse” nickname in Boxing News’ recent list of the 10 best next-generation heavyweights.
Accepting the new label, Huni continued to work quietly, patiently waiting for the moment to prove himself.
“I like to be the dark horse – the one that comes along that no one really pays attention to,” he said.
“I am sure there will come a time when this dark horse can take on all the top heavyweights.”
