Two of Australia’s top heavyweights were set to meet in February before Covid-19 got in the way, but now, Justis Huni and Joe Goodall will finally square off.
Huni has been touted as the country’s best heavyweight prospect in generations, and justified that hype when he won his Australian title in his professional debut. He’s since gone on to record four further wins, with a battering of Paul Gallen last year.
Goodall also boasts an unbeaten professional record, and a 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medal.
In many ways, it is all or nothing for the former Commonwealth Games silver medallist, who also won bronze at the world champs - Australia’s first medal since 1991.
“We pitched him to a few promoters here in America and at that stage he had done some very good rounds with some very good fighters and everyone that sees him knows that, but they weren’t prepared to gamble on a 29-year-old because there’s a lot of 18 and
19-year-olds out there,” Goodall’s trainer Kevin Barry tells foxsports.com.au.
“So, really, to have the opportunity to go back to Joe’s home, and be in a fight of this significance, is really the chance to launch himself to world boxing and Australian boxing because I believe he’s been overlooked.”
Goodall knows the importance of the fight, too.
“I feel like it’s a massive fight, a massive opportunity for both of us,” Goodall told foxsports.com.au from Las Vegas.
“It’s a fulcrum for both of our careers. It’s a fork in the road for both of us.
“Whoever wins this fight is on a fast track to a world title shot for sure. They’ll be in the top 15 in three different sanctioned bodies and that’s three possibilities to get a call-up for a world title shot.
“The winner will hold the torch for heavyweights in Australia.”
Huni and Goodall know each other well and have sparred over 100 rounds albeit when Huni was an amateur and Goodall was starting out in the professional ranks.
They share a mutual respect, although Goodall couldn't help but throw a verbal jab at Huni for his performance against Gallen.
"He went to the 10th round with Paul Gallen. Someone like Paul Gallen isn't going ten rounds with me. There's just no way," he said.
Huni responded: "I inflicted a lot of damage on Gal. That's all that matters. I got the 'W'. Styles make fights. If he could get him out of there before the ten rounds, good on him."