Workhorse Justis Huni ready to reap the rewards of demanding run

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – Justis Huni is targeting an overdue break after fighting Shaun Potgieter.

Their heavyweight contest represents the chief support for the IBF cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and David Nyika at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Wednesday evening, and falls less than a month after Huni’s most recent contest – the victory over Leandro Daniel Robutti on December 11.

The plans for him to fight his South African opponent were sufficiently advanced that the day after his second-round stoppage victory he returned to the gym to prepare. It is not since the Australian’s victory over Troy Pilcher in July that he has been able to focus on pursuits outside of his profession – and the fight with Pilcher represented his third in nine months.

Huni, 25, is Australia’s leading heavyweight. A rivalry between he and the Olympian Teremoana Jnr – who fights the little-known Osasu Otobo on the undercard – can be expected to built in the future, but on Wednesday they are appearing separately on a promotion that perhaps represents the most significant staged in Australia since Tim Tszyu-Jeff Horn, and therefore for almost five years. 

“Wednesday night I fought, and Thursday I was straight back in,” Huni told BoxingScene. “Thankfully it was a short fight. I woke up the next day and it felt like the fight didn’t even happen. I’m happy to be back here, fighting on a big card – co-main event.

“We knew about [the proposed date with Potgieter.], but we had to take care of that fight. But as soon as we got through that fight, no injuries, ‘We’ll go ahead with it’. Now we’re here. 

“You never know what new injuries you can pick up in a fight. I’m just happy to be back in there.

“It’s kind of just felt like a long training camp, to be honest. It’s just kept going. There was no climax and then restarting – it’s just been non-stop hard work. I’m always in the gym anyway, so what better opportunity to take another fight?

“I just want to take care of this fight first. I’m taking it one fight at a time – once we get through this I’m sure we’ll set out a plan for what we’ve got in store for 2025.

“I didn’t get to celebrate Christmas or New Year’s, so [next I’ll] probably have a small break and edge back into it. I spent it with family – that was it. I still try to stick to a certain weight. It’s just a little sacrifice that we have to make for bigger rewards.”

Potgieter, a 10-1 professional, is fighting outside of South Africa for the first time. His profile means that Huni has found him difficult to prepare for in detail. However Teremoana Jnr – who perhaps tellingly appeared in the lower-profile press conference staged on Monday, before the main one involving Huni and Opetaia, suggesting Huni remains a greater priority for co-promoters Tasman Fighters and Matchroom – is someone Huni knows particularly well.

“[Potgieter’s] explosive,” he continued. “He’s got a good work-rate. But it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I’ve been in with top-quality opponents. I’m still going to get the job done.

“I’m prepared for what he has to bring, and pretty confident in my boxing ability, to get the job done.

“Defence [is a weakness]. He’s there to be hit. That’s pretty good for me to have on my side. We’re looking to put on a good display of boxing, in and out, and try and not to get hit myself. 

“[Me and Teremoana Jnr] do a lot of work together. From a very young age, as well. If they built that fight it’d be massive, but we’re both pretty early in our career, and it’ll be a long time before a fight like that. We do a lot of work together. My last fight I sparred him. We know each other very well.

“I support all the other fighters from Australia. There’s so many other fighters out there around the world – we’ve got the whole world. I believe we’re just chasing the same dream. For now, just help each other out when we can – if it comes to fighting each other one day down the line, so be it.

“I’ve just got to keep my ranking and continue winning fights. That’s all it is. I’m not in competition with anyone else. I’m in competition with myself – it’s me versus me.”