Huni Returns to the Ring on Fury’s Undercard
Australian heavyweight sensation Justis Huni is set to make his highly anticipated return to the boxing ring on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s comeback fight. The bout, scheduled for April 19th at the iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, will see Huni face off against the formidable Frazer Clarke, a bronze medallist from the 2020 Olympic Games.
This will be the 26-year-old’s first outing since the tragic passing of his long-time head trainer, Keri Fui. Fui’s untimely death, which occurred after suffering a heart attack while training with Huni, led to the postponement of a planned rematch against Kiki Leutele in December. That fight would have been Huni’s first since his maiden professional defeat to current WBO heavyweight world champion Fabio Wardley in June of last year.
The contest against Wardley was a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of heavyweight boxing. Huni, a proud product of Brisbane, was in dominant control of the fight and was comfortably ahead until a thunderous one-punch knockout in the tenth round dramatically shifted the momentum and propelled Wardley onto the path towards his world title aspirations.
Frazer Clarke, Huni’s opponent, also carries a compelling record. The English fighter boasts a professional record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. His undefeated streak of 8-0 was halted by a draw against Fabio Wardley in their initial encounter earlier this year. Wardley subsequently stopped Clarke in the first round of their rematch a few months later. Since then, Clarke has secured a victory against Ebenezer Tetteh but most recently suffered a loss to Jeamie Tshikeva in November, a bout contested for the vacant British heavyweight championship.
Interestingly, Jeamie Tshikeva is also slated to feature on the stacked card, defending his national title against former British cruiserweight champion Richard Riakporhe.
A Stacked Card with Global Appeal
The event, which will be broadcast live on Netflix, promises a wealth of boxing talent and captivating matchups. Beyond Huni’s return, the card includes a high-profile clash between English star Conor Benn and Regis Prograis. This ensures that a significant global audience will be tuning in, providing a massive platform for Huni’s comeback.
The inclusion of Benn and Australian cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia – a close stablemate of Huni’s and scheduled to fight Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas this Sunday (Monday AEST) – highlights the ambitious Zuffa Boxing’s strategy under Dana White. These signings underscore the promotion’s intent to attract top-tier talent to their events.
Fabio Wardley, fresh off his impressive victory over Huni, is also slated to defend his title against Daniel Dubois in May. However, Wardley has expressed a keen interest in putting his belt on the line against Tyson Fury himself, should the former champion emerge victorious against Russian powerhouse Arslanbek Makhmudov in the main event.
Tyson Fury’s return to the ring marks his fifth comeback from retirement, following his recent back-to-back defeats to former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk in early last year.
Australian Boxing Scene Heats Up
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Australian boxing will also see significant action. Former bantamweight world champion Jason Moloney, with a record of 28 wins and 4 losses, is set to headline a Tasman Fighters card at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on April 26th. Moloney will face American challenger Andre Donovan, who holds a record of 12 wins and 2 losses. This local headline bout further demonstrates the growing momentum within Australian professional boxing.
