Australia\u2019s Justis Huni has finally opened up on the secret chaos that engulfed his first ever career loss to Englishman Fabio Wardley \u2014 whose own undefeated tear he is now tipping to end in spectacular fashion this Sunday.<\/p>\n
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Huni has backed New Zealand\u2019s Joseph Parker to enjoy \u201ca walk in the park\u201d in this hyped interim WBO heavyweight title showdown against Wardley in London (ring walks expected 8.30am AEDT).<\/p>\n
The declaration comes as the Queenslander has also spoken for the first time about his own brutal KO loss against Wardley in June <\/a>\u2013 stopped by a devastating \u201cRight Hand from the Gods\u201d in the 10th round, and while leading easily on all three scorecards.<\/p>\n Parker vs Wardley | Sunday 26 Oct from 4:30am AEDT \u2013 estimated main event ring walk time 8:30am AEDT | A classic heavyweight showdown takes place at the 02 Arena in London, as NZ\u2019s Joseph Parker takes on Fabio Wardley | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n Apart from coming off his couch to take the fight on just five weeks\u2019 notice, Huni has also confirmed a seriously injured left bicep meant he was unable to spar, or even do pad work, for two full weeks before the fight. During the fight itself, Huni also spoke of his left arm going \u201cdead\u201d during exchanges, forcing emergency footwork changes as he tried to avoid being hit while shaking said limb back into action.<\/p>\n In fact, Huni says his final fortnight of preparation involved nothing more than \u201ccryotherapy and shadow boxing\u201d due to an injury he hasn\u2019t spoken about publicly in the four months since.<\/p>\n The loss represented the type of sliding doors moment that now sees the Australian readying to regroup in December \u2013 fighting a Gold Coast rematch against New Zealand\u2019s tough Kiki Leutele \u2013 while Wardley sits one win from undisputed division king Oleksandr Usyk.<\/p>\n Yet given his efforts against the Englishman last start, who was being completely outclassed before finding that now infamous KO, Huni is confident of eventually climbing his way to the top of heavyweight division \u2013 while also tipping a big win for Parker.<\/p>\n \u201cShould be a win for Parker, easy,\u201d the 26-year-old said of Sunday\u2019s title showdown.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving been in the ring with Wardley, he obviously has punching power.<\/p>\n \u201cBut in terms of being a boxer, he didn\u2019t really offer anything.<\/p>\n MORE BOXING<\/p>\n PARKER EXCLUSIVE: Kiwi star reveals what\u2019s standing in way of Aussie blockbuster… and \u2018myth\u2019 question for UK rival<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018NOT A VENDETTA\u2019: How UK heavyweight plans to rock Aussie boxing \u2014 twice<\/a><\/p>\n Joseph Parker (L) and Fabio Wardley (R) face off as Frank Warren, Founder of Queensbury Promotions (C), looks on following the ‘All or Nothing’ press conference ahead of their Heavyweight fight at Studio 338 on October 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cSo if Parker does what I did, puts Fabio on the backfoot, it should be a walk in the park for him.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring my own fight with Wardley, there were stages where it didn\u2019t even feel like I was in a major fight.<\/p>\n \u201cFor five weeks, I\u2019d been preparing for somebody who was going to have me on the backfoot the whole time.<\/p>\n \u201cBut then in the fight, it was the complete opposite.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember being in the ring thinking \u2018f*** this feels too easy, it shouldn\u2019t feel like this\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd look, good on Fabio.<\/p>\n \u201cHe caught me.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what heavyweight boxing is.<\/p>\n \u201cSo no excuses.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s also why I think Parker will have way too much skill.<\/p>\n \u201c[Laughs] Obviously he does have to watch out for that one punch, though.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause in heavyweight boxing, one is all it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Huni joked he was also hoping Parker also finished the man who finished him.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I\u2019m sick of watching Fabio knock me out over and over,\u201d the Brisbane tough laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cTo promote this fight they\u2019ve continually shown that finish of me which is starting to get a little annoying.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd why I do want Parker to knock him out.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least that way there can be two of us on the knockout reel.\u201d<\/p>\n Incredibly, had Huni survived just three more rounds against Wardley in June, it would likely be him now throwing down in a fight to determine who faces Usyk next up for all four heavyweight straps.<\/p>\n And had he not been forced to fight Wardley on fight weeks\u2019 notice, and with one arm, maybe he would be.<\/p>\n Justis Huni in action against Fabio Wardley in their June bout. (Photo by Richard Pelham\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Regardless, Huni is still reluctant to reveal too much detail about the first loss of his professional career, and even when pushed, stresses that Wardley was simply the better man on the night.<\/p>\n Yet those closest to Huni have suggested the Brisbane slugger battled right throughout camp with a muscle growth in his left bicep that was compacting the nerves in three different places.<\/p>\n It meant whenever the Aussie tried to throw the left hand, his arm would go numb, forcing him to continually drop said limb down by his side to get feeling back.<\/p>\n So concerned were his team that they hastily tried to make defensive adjustments late in camp so that when the arm did go dead, Huni could use footwork to avoid being hit as his arm went down.<\/p>\n While reluctant to relive it, Huni did confirm reports from both his manager Mick Francis and promoter Eddie Hearn suggesting he didn\u2019t spar for a fortnight before the fight.<\/p>\n \u201cMy warm up on fight night was the first pad work I\u2019d done in two weeks,\u201d he shrugs. \u201cI basically did only cryotherapy and shadow boxing, that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n \u201cBut look, I took the fight.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it doesn\u2019t matter how long my camp was, or if my arm felt like a dead weight or whatever.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it\u2019s why I haven\u2019t spoken about it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t ever want to be that guy who loses and starts talking about injury. Starts saying \u2018oh, I couldn\u2019t do this or that\u2019.<\/p>\n