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Fabio Wardley eager to prove he is not just a puncher in stadium homecoming
Stadium fights have become commonplace in British boxing, but more often than not, they are reserved for world title bouts involving established names.
However, this Saturday, live on DAZN, Britain's Fabio Wardley continues to surpass expectations as he headlines a show at Ipswich Town's Portman Road in a huge homecoming.
In the opposite corner will be Justis Huni, and while Wardley has a superior 18-0-1 record compared to the Australian's 12-0, there is a stark difference when it comes to the makeup of both fighters.
Huni has an established amateur background with 37 bouts before turning professional, while Wardley's prior experience before the pro ranks came on the white collar circuit. To those not familiar with the term, white collar boxing consists of fights at special events with those participating havving little to no boxing experience.
For someone like Wardley to come from white collar to working through the professional ranks and now being the face of a stadium show whilst also being on the brink of a world title shot, it's a rarely trodden path and he has to be applauded.
This particular journey on the other hand can be open to criticism from fighters such as Huni who has taken the traditional path en-route to the professional code, and in the build-up to this weekend's showdown with Wardley, the Australian claimed he surpasses Wardley in all departments besides punching power.
At Thursday's final press conference, Huni was asked about these comments and whether his opinion had changed.
"I’ve still got the same opinion. Two days from now, I’ll be able to show everyone what I’m all about," Huni said.
"My ring IQ, my experience in the ring, I know where I am at all times, it will show on fight night. I’ve done all the training that I’ve needed to do and I’m ready to go."
It's no secret Wardley has dynamite in his hands. All 18 of his professional wins, besides his debut in April 2017 have all come by way of knockout, and everytime Wardley scores a knockout win, they get more and more menacing.
His last victory came in October when he faced former Olympian Frazer Clarke in a rematch which Wardley won by first round stoppage after a thunderous right hand rendered Clarke unable to continue.
When given the right to reply to Huni, Wardley was more than aware of the criticism which get thrown his way, but for him it's nothing new.
“I’ve heard it all before and if that is all I’ve got in my career it has done me well so far," Wardley began.
"So it might not do me too bad going forward and in this fight. It is nothing new for me, the standard talk of me not having an amateur background and me being inexperienced in that sense, not having the boxing knowhow, the boxing IQ to bring in the ring on the night.
"I have the power and that is undeniable when you see my fights and all of my opponents have touched the canvas."
Without all the exposure and extra opportunities being an established amateur name brings, Wardley has instead learned his craft on the fly to get him to this particular stage of his career.
Now with thousands of his fans set to pack out Portman Road, Wardley is not ready to let this meteoric rise slip after years of hard work.
“I didn’t get the amateur experience when I was younger, but I have done the hard work and the hard yards since I got into boxing. One of the first things I realised was I had things to make up in the sport. I did that, got my head down and grafted.
“There is no way this is being taken away from me now. Not in my hometown, not on my home stage.”
Knockout or not, a win for Wardley would not just continue this boxing fairytale, but also crown him the WBA interim heavyweight champion meaning he is on the brink of a world title shot.
If you ask me, that isn't bad for a fighter born in the world of white collar.
Watch Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni on DAZN with a discounted special offer subscription price. More information here.
