World News – AU – Justis Huni wins Australian heavyweight title

It’s not a household name but Justis Huni may soon change that after making Australian boxing history in Brisbane

The 21-year-old became the first Australian boxer to win a national heavyweight title on his professional debut after triumphing over defending champion Faiga Opelu (13-1-2, record 10 KOs) with a stop on the seventh lap

« It’s really amazing to do it in your debut is amazing, » Huni said after the scheduled 10-round fight.

It was impressive – but if all goes according to plan, Huni is just getting started

A super heavyweight bronze medalist at the 2019 amateur world titles, Huni not only qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in this weight class, but was billed as Australia’s top boxing gold prospect if the Games are held next year

Huni is still able to challenge Tokyo as an amateur as long as he only plays 10 professional fights before the 2021 Games

He’s made it clear that he wants gold in Japan, but that has nothing to do with his daring plans in the professional ranks

Huni’s dream is not only to win the world heavyweight crown, but to unify the titles – a quest that has already been accelerated

Huni’s promoter Dean Lonergan – the man who ran Jeff Horn’s juggernaut – is adamant: Huni can follow in the footsteps of great Briton Anthony Joshua and clinch a world title in 16 fights, with one fight planned all every two months

« I don’t feel the pressure I’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s what I deserve

« One hundred percent I can win a world title, but I have a long way to go, so I have to fight it fight by fight »

Jai Opetaia (20-0 record), Non4 in the IBF rankings, has a world cruiser weight title in his sights immediately, an ambition that is on track after winning a sixth stoppage in his re -match against Ben Kelleher for the WBO Global and IBF Asia-Oceania titles

But Opetaia has made it clear that he hopes to step up a division once his heavyweight dream comes true

He has a big plan to add the heavyweight crown to his resume, putting Huni straight into his sights in what many predict will be a mega fight between the pair within two years

Boxing, Jai Opetaia, heavyweight, Australia