'That's my curse': Justis Huni's team lodge formal protest after shock knockout loss
Updated . First published
Aussie boxer Justis Huni has suffered a shock knockout at the hands of Fabio Wardley for the WBA interim heavyweight championship.
Huni had been largely in control of the 12-round bout before Wardley landed the brutal blow mid-way through the 10th in front of a sold-out crowd in Ipswich, UK.
The 26-year-old on several occasions looked set to end the fight, but was never able to land the killer blow.
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Huni was ahead 89-82 89-82 88-83 on the judges scorecards prior to the knockout.
Justis Huni is knocked down during his fight against Fabio Wardley at Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich. Picture date: Saturday June 7, 2025. (Photo by Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images
He said it was a momentary lapse in concentration that ended the fight.
"That's my curse ... I even said before this fight, it only takes one split second to switch off and it happened tonight," he said after the fight.
"He's an awesome fighter, he never gave up and he got the win tonight and deserves it."
According to boxing commentator Ben Damon, his team will formally protest the result and the stoppage from the referee, which Huni's camp believe was premature.
Huni won seven of the nine rounds before the slick right hand in the 10th served him his first defeat in 13 fights. Wardley moves his career tally to 19-0-1.
"I don't profess to be an Usyk, a Justis Huni, someone with all the skills," Wardley said after the fight.
Fabio Wardley celebrates winning his fight against Justis Huni at Portman Road Stadium, Ipswich. Picture date: Saturday June 7, 2025. (Photo by Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images) PA Images via Getty Images
"But one thing I do know how to do is win fights, dig deep, find a bit of heart, bite down on that gumshield and find a way to win and that's one thing I had to do tonight.
"He's a great boxer, great skills and he showed me everything he had tonight, he pulled out all sorts of different tricks."
