Justis Huni receives MAJOR injury boost as Australian talent eyes March date with Lucas Browne
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Justis Huni gets a BIG injury boost as Australian boxing talent looks for a quick return to the ring amid talks with veteran heavyweight Lucas Browne
- Justis Huni to avoid hand surgery in big boost for boxing talent
- The 23-year-old injured his knuckles during his emphatic win over Kiki Leutele.
- It was expected to have a quiet 2023 but it has received a significant boost
- Huni’s manager says the prodigious talent wants to fight Lucas Browne
Justis Huni has avoided the need for further hand surgeries and is considering a return to the ring, possibly against Lucas Browne in March.
The Brisbane heavyweight is 7-0 and has world title ambitions, but faced the prospect of a quiet 2023 after injuring his knuckles in a blowout defeat of Kiki Leutele in November.
It was feared that Huni had suffered the same injury that ruled him out of the Tokyo Olympics, with surgery and subsequent logistical disruptions keeping him out of the ring for 12 months.
Justis Huni has gotten a big injury boost to set him up for another strong calendar year
But manager Mick Francis confirmed to AAP that the 23-year-old’s hands had healed well and he would return to full training sessions soon.
Francis said they would avoid using the less protective horsehair gloves Huni used against Leutele that contributed to the damage.
“His hand is fine and we’ll look at different gloves, mix things up,” Francis said.
‘They hurt after every fight, but only for a week or two and they’re fine again. The doctors have taken a look and don’t quite understand.
The 23-year-old injured his knuckles during his emphatic win over Kiki Leutele.
Huni’s manager says they are targeting a fight against Lucas Browne in March 2023
The Tasman Fighters CEO said he had been in talks with Browne, ranked No. 10 in the WBO rankings, as one of four fights this year. The fight would take place at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall on March 17.
Francis also expects Huni to fight twice in the United States this year.
The veteran Browne reignited his career with an upset first-round knockout of Junior Fa in June, and was due to headline a lucrative December fight in Dubai that was abruptly called off.
Huni moved to No. 15 in the WBO rankings after defeating Leutele, and Francis said a win over Browne would likely move his charge into the top 15 in three of the top four organizations.
‘Lucas is so dangerous; Justis needs to be in his game because Lucas can knock anyone out in one punch,â Francis said.