Fabio Wardley has issued a warning to Justis Huni ahead of their WBA interim heavyweight title clash scheduled for June 7th. Wardley is urging the Australian challenger to broaden his preparation and scouting beyond focusing solely on the British boxer`s renowned knockout power.
The highly anticipated bout marks a significant homecoming for the Ipswich-born fighter, taking place at Portman Road, the home ground of his beloved Ipswich Town FC. This fight came about as a replacement after Wardley`s original opponent, Jarrell Miller, withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Wardley and his promoter, Frank Warren, swiftly secured Justis Huni, the formidable WBO number one contender from Australia, to step in.
Shortly after the replacement was announced, Huni, who boasts a professional record of 12-0 with 7 KOs, took to Instagram on May 6th to publicly downplay Wardley`s abilities. He posted, “I don’t think he’s got anything that exciting in his bag. I’ve got it all over him.”
During a recent press conference, hosted by Dev Sahni, Huni was prompted to elaborate on his earlier comments. He proceeded to outline what he perceives as his key advantages over Wardley, stating, “The only thing he has over me is power, but every other box is ticked. Footwork, speed, putting my punches together – I believe I tick all the boxes.”
Wardley, however, possesses a highly impressive professional record of 18-0-1 with a remarkable 17 knockouts, giving him a staggering 94% KO ratio – among the highest percentage held by current heavyweight contenders. The undefeated 30-year-old was quick to counter Huni`s assessment, insisting that he is far from being a one-dimensional fighter who relies only on brute force.
Addressing his opponent directly through the press conference, Wardley stated, “I understand he’s taking this fight on short notice, but I’d urge him to do a bit more homework. If you think all I’ve got is power, it’s going to be a rough night for you on June 7. Even if that’s the case, look at Deontay Wilder – he did pretty well with mostly power. I can get there if I need to.”
Wardley concluded by reinforcing his point and predicting the outcome: “There’s more in my bag than just power. He’s a great fighter with plenty of ability, and there are areas I’ll need to target, but the outcome will be the same: Fabio Wardley’s hand raised, with his opponent out on the floor.”
