Frank Warren: Home Support Will Push Wardley to a “Famous Victory”
Frank Warren is expecting Fabio Wardley’s fans to push him on to a famous victory this weekend.
On Saturday night, Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) will fight Justis Huni (12-0, 7 KOs) for the WBA interim heavyweight title at the home of Ipswich Town, Portman Road.
Initially, Wardley was due to fight the controversial Jarrell Miller but the American’s withdrawal cracked open the door for Huni. The Australian put his shoulder to it and quickly accepted the opportunity to fly to England and take on Wardley.
Miller may have provided more excitement and entertainment outside of the ring but former amateur world championship bronze medallist, Huni, may just give Wardley a sterner test inside it.
“It will be a good fight between the two of them,” show promoter, Warren, told Queensberry.
“It’s a cracker of a fight. The atmosphere is going to be really good for Fabio’s homecoming. They’re all coming out for him so he’s going to be very, very well supported and he’s in with a competitor whose got a good amateur pedigree and is undefeated as a pro.”
Wardley’s progress has been incredible. A decade ago, he was working as a recruitment consultant and competing in white collar boxing events.
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Now, he is a former British champion who is ranked at number one by the WBA and sits at number 10 in the prestigious Ring Magazine rankings.
“He’s a real real competitor,” Warren said. “He’s a very articulate, sensible and smart guy and he can fight. I think he’s a great, great advert for boxing. I think he’s a real, great ambassador for our sport.”
Being smart and sensible undoubtedly helps Wardley but he is a natural and instinctive fighter and when he has does get hit and hurt, he always chooses to fight rather than take flight.
Wardley is also a brutal puncher. Of his 18 victories, 17 have come inside the distance and his shocking first round knockout of Frazer Clarke last October gave the clearest indication yet that he will carry his power through the levels.
Huni will give his credentials a massive test but the 6ft 5in tall Wardley has already proven himself to be one of the most dangerous heavyweights on the scene.
“You go and ask Frazer Clarke. That’s got to be one of the knockouts of last year hasn’t it? What an amazing knockout that was. He poleaxed him,” Warren said.
“He’s a lethal puncher. All these fellas, they’re such big lumps and they’ve got such power that if they catch you right, you’ll go. You could be the best in the world but if you get caught you’re liable to go.
“With Justis as well, I think he’s knocked or stopped seven of 12 his opponents.”
Wardley may be confident in his power and belief that he is the better fighter and Huni will undoubtedly be sure that he has the far better amateur pedigree.
Neither fighter can be 100% sure about how they will handle the unique atmosphere of a stadium fight, however.
Around 20,000 fans are expected inside Portman Road on Saturday night and both fighters will have different levels of pressure to shoulder.
Warren has got to know the confident Wardley well over the past twelve months and the Hall of Fame promoter believes that being right at the centre of attention will suit the 30 year-old down to the ground.
“I think he’ll thrive on the environment, the love that he’ll get from the from his fans,” he said.
“I think that will bring him on. For Justis, he’s going into the other guys backyard. He’s going to have it all to do. He’s the one who’s going to be feeling the fact that he is in the lion’s den.
“For Fabio, it’s pressuring fighting in front of your home fans but I’m sure if you asked any boxer, they’d much rather fight in front of their home fans rather than somebody else’s home fans.”
