The anticipated rematch between Justis Huni and New Zealand heavyweight Kiki Toa Leutele has officially been cancelled, with promoters confirming the decision comes in the wake of the tragic death of Leutele’s long-time trainer, Keri Fui. The bout had been scheduled for December 7 on the undercard of Jai Opetaia vs. Huseyin Cinkara at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Huni’s team at Tasman Fighters revealed that the matchup had been in doubt since Fui passed away from a heart attack in November. With both fighters dealing with emotional and physical setbacks, the promoters opted to postpone the fight and aim for a dedicated card early next year. “They were both prepared to fight, but if these guys aren’t going to be at their best… it just made sense,” said Tasman’s Mick Francis, who indicated February as a potential rescheduled date.
Watch Wardley vs. Huni highlights.
The loss has hit Huni particularly hard. The 26-year-old Australian, who defeated Leutele via unanimous decision in their first meeting in 2022, had been coached by Fui since childhood. “Keri wasn’t only his coach… he was a big part of his life,” Francis noted, adding that both public and private funeral ceremonies made the past weeks “hectic” for the entire camp.
With the heavyweight rematch removed from the card, rising super-middleweight Max McIntyre will now step into the co-main event slot against Jed Morris. The 21-year-old McIntyre, unbeaten at 8-0 with seven knockouts, is viewed as a major prospect by Tasman. “He deserves his shot… I can see Max being a future star of Australian boxing,” said Francis.
The remainder of the “stacked” bill will continue as planned, featuring heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana, junior welterweight contender Jake Wyllie, and former WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney.
Read more about Opetaia vs. Cinkara event.
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