Justis Huni entered 2025 with the expectation of a big fight to take his career to the next level.
Not quite on his bucket list was the chance to play the spoiler on relatively short notice, but the unbeaten Australian will fully lean into that role.
Brisbane’s Huni has not left England since he was formally announced as the new opponent for top 10 contender Fabio Wardley. Their modified matchup was revealed to the public five weeks out from their June 7 DAZN headliner from Portman Road Football Ground in Wardley’s hometown of Ipswich, England.
“I didn’t come all the way over here just to take part,” Huni told BoxingScene. “I’m really come over here to cause an upset and crash this homecoming party Fabio has planned.
“I’m just gonna give it my all and back myself all the way.”
Huni, 12-0 (7 KOs), set up training camp in the Greater Manchester area shortly after their May 15 press conference in Ipswich. He accepted the fight one week prior - on roughly six weeks’ notice, replacing a reportedly injured Jarrell Miller, 26-1-2 (22 KOs).
The need for Wardley, 18-0-1 (17KOs), to preserve his planned homecoming also provides Huni a long-sought step-up fight. It comes at the right time for the visiting 26-year-old, who is riding a trio of second-round knockouts.
His showdown with Wardley will mark just the third outside of Australia for Huni, but the first in enemy territory. He claimed wins in Cancun, Mexico and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in back-to-back fights, though both cities which provided a neutral backdrop.
That won’t at all be the case for this occasion.
“The fans here are great, but I expect all of that to change once we get in the ring,” admitted Huni. “It’s gonna be loud, everyone against me and a lot of boos from the crowd when I’m walking into the ring.
“That’s okay. I’m here to embrace it, take it all in.
The fight is by no means a foregone conclusion. In fact, most fans agree that Huni presents a stiffer challenge than would have been the case with Miller, a more recognizable name but who is basically wasted talent at this point of his career.
Wardley is a -333 favorite according to bet365, as high as -380 with Caesars Sportsbook. Huni is a +275 and +260 underdogs with those books, respectively.
Still, the visiting boxer doesn’t view this as a chance to shock the world more so than to simply advance his career.
“This is just another steppingstone to get me to where I want to go,” insists Huni.