Justis Hunis cannot wait to show the boxing world his skills and the emerging heavyweight will get his chance to do just that in Mexico this weekend.
The 24-year-old Queenslander will kickstart his stalled professional career when he steps into the ring against well credentialled American Andrew Tabiti on Sunday (AEST) in Cancun.
After having his first five fights in under eight months, it will be just a week short of a full year since the unbeaten Hunis last fought.
Huni (7-0, 4 KOs) has fought just twice since June 2021 because of hand and ankle injuries, and after being floored by two bouts of COVID.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster the last couple of years pretty much, but I’m on a good path now,” Huni told AAP from Cancun.
“I had a really good camp, finally injury-free, so hopefully I come out of this fight injury-free and can look at closing out the year with another fight, hopefully in December."
Despite his inactivity, Huni is ranked 15th by the WBO and 20th by the WBC in his division.
Back in February, the 2016 world youth super heavyweight champion signed a multi-year promotional deal with Englishman Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
This weekend presents a perfect showcase to display his highly regarded skills.
The fight with Tabiti will be shown on streaming service DAZN, giving fight fans around the world a first glance of the Australian.
“I’m excited to get back under the bright lights and back in the square circle,” Huni said.
“I’m really looking forward to getting in there and obviously getting some new eyes and some more attention to myself, just getting my name out there.
“Just to be able to get in front of a whole different audience is massive for me.
“Just coming out of a small gym in Australia to be performing on the world stage now is a whole other level.”
Although he fought in several countries as an amateur, Huni will be making his first appearance in Mexico - one of the world’s most passionate boxing nations.
He will face a vastly more experienced opponent in Tabiti (20-1, 16 KOs), whose only loss was to Yuniel Dorticos for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title in 2019.
Tabiti won his three subsequent fights, but hasn’t fought since August last year.
“He’s very experienced, he’s had a lot more fights than me but I’ve done a lot of study on Andrew,” Huni said.
“He’s got hand speed but it's nothing I haven’t seen before, so I’m looking forward to getting in there and mixing it up with him.”
