Heavyweight contenders Fabio Wardley and Justis Huni put their unbeaten records on the line when they clash at Portman Road on Saturday night.
Topping the bill at a stadium show in his hometown of Ipswich has been a dream of Wardley's for some time. If he can move to 19-0-1 with an 18th stoppage victory of his professional career, the 30-year-old will move to within touching distance of mega-fights at a lucrative time for boxing's big men.
Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) will have an eye on writing his own chapter in Australia and England's centuries-spanning sporting rivalry by stunning the home crowd.
“I want to go over there and make them never forget my name,” Huni, a stablemate of IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, told The Sporting News.
“That’s what Jai went over there and did and I want to do that same thing. I want to leave that ring, that stadium, with everyone knowing my name — that’s my goal.
“Fighting over there in his hometown, I feel like there’s no pressure on me, all the pressure’s on him. He has to come and perform for his people. At the end of the day, I don’t know anyone there and a lot of them might not even know me. They’ll know after, that’s it."
Wardley is in action for the first time since his shocking first-round knockout of fellow Briton Frazer Clarke, settling their rivalry after the pair boxed to an enthralling 12-round draw in March 2024.
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Fabio Wardley vs. Justis Huni odds, betting tips and prediction
Per Paddy Power, Wardley is a 3/10 betting favourite, with Huni priced at 13/5. The draw is 16/1.
Even though Wardley has one of those on his record against Clarke, what happened in the rematch means it doesn't feel like great value.
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Fabio Wardley vs. Justis Huni fight prediction
The nature of Wadley's win over Clarke is hard to shift from the mind's eye. An Olympic medalist who outboxed the Ipswich man for stretches of their initial contest was left slumped in the corner with ghastly facial damage.
When a hard-punching heavyweight lays out the brutal realities of their trade in such a graphic manner, the world sits up and takes notice.
However, the first Clarke fight feels just as significant coming into this contest, with Huni also a decorated amateur. At 26, the 2016 world youth champion and 2019 world bronze medalist has years on his side in a way that Clarke didn't
Boasting impressive speed, a smooth jab and excellent combinations, Huni has the skills to outbox Wardley, especially if he is over-eager when spurred on by a voluble home crowd.
But Wardley has the belief of a knockout artist and has shown he can hang tough when in with someone who might have his number from a skills standpoint.
If there's a Huni contest that lingers when assessing his chances in Suffolk, it's his Riyadh Season win over Kevin Lerena in March last year. The Australian won a unanimous 10-round decision but was rocked by former cruiserweight Lerena in round two and left on the brink of being stopped in the final session.
Lerena carries decent pop but has 15 KOs in 31 outings. Wardley presents a very different challenge and will be less elusive, but you'd expect the tenacious and relentless Englishman to get to Huni in a way he can't handle shortly after halfway, perhaps with a looping overhand right or left hook given the younger man's tendency to bring his hands back low after throwing.