Justis Huni received widespread acclaim for his remarkable response immediately following his knockout loss to Fabio Wardley.
The Australian stepped in for the fight with only five weeks` preparation, after the originally scheduled opponent, controversial American Jarrell Miller, withdrew due to injury.
Huni was dominating the fight and seemed poised to spoil Wardley`s highly anticipated homecoming in Ipswich, holding a clear lead after ten rounds.
However, just when it seemed defeat was certain for the local favorite, Wardley landed a spectacular `Hail Mary` right hand that dramatically shifted the momentum and outcome of the match.
Huni demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship in defeat, as shown in compelling backstage footage from the dressing room released by Matchroom Boxing.
While embracing a family member, the defeated heavyweight expressed resilience, stating:
Shit happens, you know. I`ll be back; I just need to bounce back. We keep our heads up and bounce back. It is what it is. Head up, team, head up. We`ll bounce back, that`s boxing.
Commenters online praised Huni`s humility, with one remarking, “He`s a class act, very respectful throughout.” Another supporter noted, “He gained many fans, not only through his boxing but also his conduct after the fight. Huge respect.” A third commenter simply added, “Lovely guy, he’ll be back.”
At 26 years old, Huni had been leading on all judges` scorecards, having thrown and landed a greater number of punches throughout the bout.
However, the most impactful punch was the decisive right hand thrown by the 30-year-old Wardley, which dramatically ended the contest.
Wardley, a former recruitment consultant who transitioned from white-collar boxing, maintained his undefeated record and secured the WBA interim title.
Wardley commented on his performance, saying:
I don`t claim to be like Usyk or Justis Huni, possessing all the skills. But one thing I do know is how to win fights, how to dig deep, find heart, bite down on the gumshield, and find a method to win. That was necessary tonight. I perhaps should have done better in some earlier rounds. But that`s not always how it works out. Sometimes you just have to find another way to secure the victory. So, we managed to pull something special off.
Neville Whittle 
Oliver Croft