Justis Huni stopped a rugby icon in the final round of an epic fight.
On Saturday evening, the Australian will challenge for the vacant WBA interim world heavyweight title.
However, claiming the belt will be anything but easy, as he has to travel to Ipswich Town soccer club’s Portman Road Stadium to take on thunderous puncher Fabio Wardley.
But having already competed in a monster showdown in his homeland, the occasion is unlikely to break him.
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Justis Huni knocked out Paul Gallen
On June 16, 2021, Justis Huni put his Australian heavyweight title on the line against former Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks captain, Paul Gallen, in a massive domestic clash at the ICC Exhibition Centre in Sydney, Australia.
The bout served as a huge opportunity for the rising boxing prospect to explode into superstardom, while it gave the ex-rugby player a chance to prove he could compete with the very best in his country.
From the outset, Huni proved to be the classier operator, landing snappy jabs at will.
In the third round, the younger man rocked his opponent with a heavy shot, before nearly having him out of there in the fifth.
Showcasing his ferocious fighting spirit, Gallen bit down on his gumshield and continued attempting to land big shots.
However, in the end, his countryman was just too much. Huni detonated a massive right hand in the final round that sent the sporting icon spiraling towards the canvas, prompting the referee to call a halt to the action.
Paul Gallen knocked out former heavyweight world champion
While Gallen fell short against Huni, he still managed to pick up a massive win in his professional boxing career.
On a night he’ll never forget, the Aussie went head-to-head with a former WBA King.
Going into the bout, very few gave the athlete a realistic chance of winning the contest.
However, in a shocking moment, Gallen knocked out a former heavyweight world champion.