Wardley vs Huni: Running Towards Adversity
Fabio Wardley will fight WBO world No.1 contender Justis Huni in a heavyweight showdown at Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town, on Saturday June 7, live on DAZN worldwide.
With Jarrell Miller withdrawing from the WBA Interim world title fight, the undefeated Australian, 12-0 (7 KOs) from Brisbane, steps in for a huge stadium occasion in Suffolk.
The show is promoted by Frank Warren and Queensberry, with the main event in association with Matchroom Boxing, Tasman Fighters and Goldstar.
Huni, 26, is the holder of the WBO Global and IBF Pan Pacific heavyweight titles and has already fought this year with a second round stoppage of Shaun Potgieter on the Gold Coast.
He won his position with the WBO with a hard-fought Riyadh Season victory over the South African Kevin Lerena in March of last year, making a further defence of his title against Troy Pilcher.
This will be Huni's opening experience of fighting on UK soil, with his only other ventures outside of Australia coming in Saudi Arabia and Cancun, Mexico.
On the undercard at Portman Road there is a classic British title confrontation at super welterweight between the Commonwealth champion Sam Gilley (18-1, 9 KOs) and Louis Greene. It will be a re-run of the 2023 encounter, which Gilley won via unanimous decision. Greene has since scored a first round stoppage over the previously unbeaten Jack McGann on a Riyadh Season event in March of last year.
In European title action at super lightweight, the undefeated Dubliner Pierce O’Leary (16-0, 9 KOs) will fight Liam Dillon. O’Leary has made four successful defences of his WBC International title.
At cruiserweight, the Cuban Mike Perez (30-3-1, 21 KOs) who resides in Cork, Ireland, will fight against Belfast star Steven Ward. Perez comes into the fight off the back of eight straight wins since losing by decision in a WBC world title challenge against Mairis Briedis in 2017. Ward (15-3, 5 KOs), defeated fellow Belfast fighter Tommy McCarthy via a sixth round stoppage last time out in March.
The card also features two British Olympians in heavyweight Delicious Orie in fight No.2 as a pro, plus the professional debut of bronze medal winner Lewis Richardson, who will be fighting at super welterweight. Orie will be in four round action, with Richardson fighting over six.
Local Ipswich super bantamweight Jack Williams (2-0, 1 KO, 4 rounds), Enfield lightweight Lillie Winch (4-0, 6 rounds), London super featherweight Christian Fetti (5-0, 4 rounds), Ilford featherweight Umar Khan (11-0, 1 KO, 8 rounds) and Lowestoft super lightweight Keano White (4-0, 1 KO, 4 rounds) complete the card.
“I am very happy that we have been able to bring in probably an even tougher opponent for Fabio in Justis Huni,” said promoter Frank Warren. “This will be a great fight between two young heavyweights on the rise and with an eye on the big prize.
“Justis holds the No.1 spot in the WBO rankings, so it says a lot about him that he is prepared to surrender his position to fight Fabio in a 50-50 on paper for the WBA Interim world title. There is also the added dimension of Justis being a Matchroom fighter and we’ve got a lead to protect!
“A show like this deserves a British title battle and that is what we will get when Sam Gilley and Lewis Greene trade bombs, plus we’ve got a European title fight for Pierce O’Leary at super lightweight that will position him for big nights in Ireland.
“I am also particularly looking forward to seeing our Olympians show their pedigree, with Delicious having his second pro fight and we welcome Lewis Richardson to Queensberry for his debut.”
our partners
