Former world champion claims Justis Huni got ‘complacent’ against Fabio Wardley
Wardley won by tenth-round knockout after trailing on all three judges scorecards
A former world champion has expressed how Justis Huni became ‘complacent’ against Fabio Wardley before getting knocked out.
Carl Frampton has implied that Huni lost his concentration which allowed Wardley to land a thunderous right-hand in the tenth round and attain hometown glory.
Huni produced a boxing masterclass and was up on all three judges' scorecards but Wardley refused to give up and rescued his unbeaten record with his 18th knockout in 19 professional bouts.
Frampton told iFL TV: “Where did that come from? I didn’t see it coming. I thought that Fabio was looking sorry for himself and I think it was really easy at times for Justis and he got a little bit complacent and walked into one.
“But that’s the excitement that Fabio brings. He can do that and he can turn your lights out late in the fight when he’s behind. It’s a bit of a Rocky story isn’t it? It’s amazing, the whole story.”
Despite hurting Huni in the first round, Wardley was peppered with jabs, right hands and vicious body shots for the next nine rounds, where it was clear who had boxed at an elite level in the amateur ranks and who started as a white collar fighter in their 20s.
Indeed, it was a near-perfect performance by Huni, before the Australian decided to mix it up with Wardley in the middle of the ring, who has shown his raw knockout power throughout his career, notably destroying Frazer Clarke last October in a round.
Frampton continued: “He didn’t have to [trade]. I think it was so easy for him at times. He just thought I could do what I want here. But he made a mistake, his feet squared up a little bit and he walked into a really good shot.
“That was one of the first straight right hands Fabio threw because they were all wide ones and he leaned out to the side and threw a straight one.”
Wardley, 30, now holds the WBA Interim Heavyweight title and could become mandatory to face the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel D ubois, who are scheduled to battle on July 19 at Wembley Stadium.
“No amateur background, four white collar fights and then learning on the job as a pro. But I think you have to be careful with who you match him with.”
As for Huni, the 26-year-old suffered his first pro defeat, yet displayed his talent as the away fighter in the UK.
