Fast-rising Australian heavyweight Justis Huni 5-0 (4) is looking to relaunch his career in the United Kingdom.
The 22-year-old from Brisbane won the national heavyweight title in his pro debut in last October and was considered a big change to medal at the Tokyo Olympics before a hand injury suffered in his 10th round stoppage victory over Paul Gallen in June forced him out of the Games.
Huni had successful hand surgery and the plan is now for him to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England in the northern summer.
The idea is for him to get traction in the UK market before pursuing his pro career there.
“It’s a perfect launching pad for Justis in the UK,” Huni’s promoter Dean Lonergan told Sky Sports.
“There would be nothing better than him coming off the back of a Commonwealth Gold and doing one, maybe two fights up there as a pro against some big names.”
The UK has evolved into hotbed of heavyweight talent in recent years. Along with WBA, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua there is also WBC champion Tyson Fury. Below them sits rising stars Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois and French talent Tony Yoka, along with veteran Dereck Chisora.
“A fight that we’re very keen on, we’d love to have a fight against Dereck Chisora, or even a Joe Joyce or a Tony Yoka,” Lonergan said.
“He’s going to be devastating. He’s incredibly fast, he moves like a middleweight, and he’s hitting harder and harder.
“I think he’s a nightmare for any fighter he’s in the ring with.”
Huni’s father and trainer Rocki said his son was heartbroken that his Olympic dream was shattered by the hand injury.
“He could not bring himself to watch all the boxing,” said Rocki Huni.
“It was frustrating for him, especially to see his mate [Australia’s Harry Garside] win a medal. They wanted to do it together.
“He was pretty upset, especially seeing how it panned out in the final and he was pretty confident that he would have medalled, if not been pretty close to getting that gold.
“I think Justis could have won gold if he had got there.”
The gold medal in the super heavyweight division was eventually won by Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov.
Huni says he can’t wait to get back into the ring once his hand has fully healed.
“I’m still very young, I’m only 22, but as I grow and mature, especially in the heavyweight division, you will definitely see more and more potential of my power as I move forward,” Huni said to Sky Sports.
“Definitely in the future, I’ll be looking to fight in the UK, because that’s where it’s at, especially in the heavyweight division.
“It will be awesome if I could challenge myself against Dereck [Chisora]. He’s a very credible boxer and it will be an awesome test for me. That’s what I’m all about is continuously testing myself.
“It will definitely get my name out there. An awesome experience if we can get that fight.”
