Australian heavyweight boxing star Justis Huni has recently found himself in the midst of conflicts between rival boxing promotions following a successful comeback last weekend. Huni, who returned to the ring after a ten-month hiatus, secured a victory over Frazer Clarke by majority decision while fighting on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s match against Arslanbek Makhmudov. This marked Huni’s first appearance since his world title loss to Fabio Wardley in June of the previous year.
Although Huni showcased his skills impressively in the ring, turmoil looms outside. Boxing journalist Dan Rafael revealed that Matchroom Boxing, under the guidance of Eddie Hearn, has issued a legal notice to Goldstar Promotions and Tasman Fighters. This notification asserts that Huni remains under an exclusive contract with Matchroom, claiming he is in the midst of a six-fight deal. The letter described Huni’s participation in the Clarke fight as “tortious interference,” indicating that Matchroom had not been informed about this matchup.
Matchroom reportedly attempted to resolve the issue by proposing a draft amendment that would allow Huni to fight under certain conditions, but they have not received a response from the competing promoters. Spencer Brown of Goldstar voiced his frustration regarding the situation, labelling the legal actions as “very silly” and “very petty.”
As of now, there seems to be no resolution to this contractual dispute. Despite the chaos surrounding him, Huni (13-1) continues to be hailed as one of Australia’s top boxing talents after transitioning from amateur to professional six years ago. His journey to the Olympics was interrupted when he withdrew due to a broken hand, an injury he complicated during a 2021 victory over NRL star Paul Gallen.
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