Eddie Hearn was surprised to get the call from Frank Warren offering Justis Huni the opportunity to face Fabio Wardley on June 7, likening Huni's mission to that of Andy Ruiz when he upset Anthony Joshua in 2019.
Wardley was scheduled to face Jarrell Miller in his hometown of Ipswich, at Portman Road stadium. Miller was forced to withdraw just four weeks out of the contest with a shoulder injury and the search for a replacement began. Miller, of course, had been scheduled to face Joshua before Ruiz replaced him six years ago.
Filip Hrgovic and Huni were the two men that were reported to have been offered the bout with Wardley.
Huni will now face Wardley for the WBA interim heavyweight title.
“Change of opponent, same venue, same occasion, and for me it will be the same outcome,” said Wardley “We’ve got a great contender, No. 1 with the WBO. Me No. 1 with the WBA. It’s basically No. 1 v No. 1.”
Huni is not deterred from facing the hard hitting Wardley in his home town.
“This is my coming out party to show the world who I am,” Huni said. “I’m coming here to bring the upset and I can’t wait to put a show on.”
Warren, the promoter of Wardley and the event believes it’s going to be a night to remember in June 7.
“This is something that’s going to be a little bit special,” Warren said. “We are going to see a real, real battle. This is boxing at its best. There’s a spice of Queensberry vs Matchroom. You are not going to be disappointed. It’s destiny for Fabio to be challenging for a world title. “
Hearn, who represents Huni, remembered Joshua’s upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jnr in Madison Square Garden.
“It’s been six years since Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz at MSG,” Hearn said. “This is so similar. Supposed to be fighting Jarrell Miller four weeks out. We probably chose the wrong style, we probably chose the wrong fight. We’ve got to ruin everything, the dream, the fairytale.
“Frank Warren does not make mistakes, I couldn’t believe we got this fight.”
Warren responded: “I genuinely, genuinely believe in Fabio.”