Fabio Wardley celebrates spectacular knockout victory over Justis Huni in Ipswich to win the WBA interim heavyweight title – Huni suffers first professional defeat.
Fabio Wardley (19-0-1, 18 knockouts) produced a spectacular showdown in front of his home crowd in Ipswich on June 6. At the Portman Road Stadium, the local hero secured the WBA interim heavyweight title with an explosive knockout in the tenth round – against the previously unbeaten Justis Huni (12-1, 7 knockouts) from Australia.
At first it did not look like a happy ending for the man from Suffolk. Huni, who replaced Jarrell Miller at short notice due to injury, dominated for long stretches with fast hands, nimble legs and clean technique. The Australian was clearly ahead on the scorecards. Wardley had great difficulty breaking his opponent’s rhythm, appearing overwhelmed and at a loss – until he struck out of nowhere in round ten.
With a cracking right hook, Wardley caught the upright marching Huni on the chin – the Australian went down as if felled. Huni managed to get back to his feet, but they were too wobbly. Referee John Latham had seen enough and stopped the fight.
“I don’t claim to be an [Oleksandr] Usyk when it comes to technique,” explained Wardley after the fight. “But I know how to win fights. Sometimes you just have to find a way. I dug deep into my bag of tricks – and it worked.”
It was a memorable evening for Wardley: his debut with Queensberry Promotions, his first title fight – and a victory that further raises his profile in the heavyweight division. For Huni, on the other hand, it was the end of a perfect record – and the bitter taste of his first defeat at professional level.