Due to changes in the lineup, Fabio Wardley may have ended up with an even better opponent than originally planned. Initially, he was set to face Jarrell Miller, but the American withdrew. There were talks of Filip Hrgović stepping in, but he had other plans.

Now, Wardley will face Justis Huni — a young, fast, and well-schooled Australian prospect. Huni is technically sound, aggressive when needed, and enjoys mixing it up at mid-range. The ingredients are all there for a fight that’s compelling both strategically and visually.

Though this is framed as a prospect vs. prospect showdown for an interim title, Wardley is already 30 — still young by heavyweight standards, so the framing holds.

Huni has faced respectable opposition: Joe Goodall, Andrew Tabiti, and Kevin Lerena. But Wardley has already been through bigger moments — facing Fraser Clarke and David Adeleye in front of divided, passionate crowds under serious pressure.

Neither fighter is known for overwhelming volume, but Huni is clearly busier than Adeleye — Wardley’s previous opponent.

In his high-paced fight against Adeleye, Wardley’s busiest round was the seventh — 42 punches thrown, 19 landed. Typically, he throws between 30 and 40 punches per round.

Huni averages around 40, but in fights like the one against Lerena, he often exceeded 50 or even 60 punches per round. His approach is to box first, working his way into range with combinations and then landing with authority. Wardley, by contrast, relies on power and athleticism, turning up the volume only when he sees an opening.

Huni has already fought three times in 2024, including a tough battle with Kevin Lerena, where he nearly got stopped in round 10 — a serious learning moment for the Aussie. He also kicked off 2025 with a second-round TKO win.

Wardley, in comparison, fought only once in 2023 — against Fraser Clarke. Their first fight ended in a draw, though Clarke arguably outboxed him — despite going down multiple times. In the rematch, however, Wardley made a statement by obliterating Clarke in one round.

As heavyweights, both can punch — but Wardley hits harder. He’s athletic, rangy, physically strong, and every shot he lands comes with danger. Opponents must stay switched on every second of the fight.

Huni showed vulnerability in the tenth round against Lerena, surviving a rough stretch but avoiding a knockdown. That said, it exposed some questions.

Wardley, on the other hand, has shown an excellent chin. He takes more punches than he probably should, but it’s extremely hard to put him down — possibly one of the toughest jaws among young heavyweights today.

Huni will be stepping into enemy territory — the fight will be held in Ipswich, Wardley’s hometown. Facing someone like Wardley is already a challenge — doing it in front of his crowd makes it even tougher.

Wardley is riding a wave of momentum. He’s become Britain’s leading heavyweight prospect, beating domestic rivals and pushing toward a world title opportunity. With a win, he could face the Pullev vs. Hunter winner for the WBA "regular" title.

Huni, meanwhile, is stepping in as a replacement. He’s had enough time to prepare, but has he faced enough adversity to be ready for a fighter like Wardley?

On one hand, Huni is clearly a skilled, intelligent boxer. On the other, Wardley appears not only stronger — but also more mature and seasoned as a professional at this stage.