Fabio Wardley just pulled off one of the most savage turnarounds you’ll see in a heavyweight title fight — knocking out Justis Huni in round 10 after getting outboxed, outworked, and downright schooled for most of the night. The WBA interim heavyweight belt is heading back to Ipswich, and it’s not because Wardley boxed brilliantly. It’s because he’s the brutal truth in a division that doesn’t forgive.
A lot of top fighters lose when the lights get bright. A lot of big names have folded in their hometowns — nervous, tight, afraid to throw. Wardley walked into a packed Portman Road, carrying his town’s hopes on his back, and didn’t flinch once. He looked flat for most of the night, yes. But when the opening finally came, he ripped through it like a man possessed.
HUNI SCHOOLED HIM… AND STILL ENDED UP ON HIS BACK – THIS IS WHAT SEPARATES THE ELITE FROM THE REST!
For nine rounds, Justis Huni had his number. He jabbed, he moved, he slipped, he tagged. Wardley swung and missed, and every miss got punished. The commentary booth had given up on him by round seven. His corner probably should have. He was down on every card and looked like a man just trying to finish on his feet. Round after round, Huni made him look clumsy. Wardley’s power was neutralized. His lungs were burning. His feet looked like they were glued to the canvas. Huni looked like the fresher man from round three through nine, and the DraftKings odds flipped him to a -2000 favorite. Everyone watching — fans, pundits, gamblers — assumed it was a wrap. Then came round 10.
Huni landed a few more clean shots, circled off the ropes, and stayed out of danger… until he didn’t. One right hand. That’s all it took. Wardley found the target, Huni collapsed, and before you could process what just happened, it was over. Forget scorecards. Forget all the analysis. Wardley cracked him, and the fight ended right there.
FABIO WARDLEY IS THE BRUTAL REALITY CHECK FOR EVERYONE IN THE DIVISION
This is what separates the elite punchers from the rest. Wardley got boxed up for nine rounds and still didn’t lose belief. Huni had the better footwork, the better jab, the better stamina — and he still got slept. This is what Wardley brings. He’s not polished. He’s not always pretty. But he’s lethal. One mistake, and you’re gone. Say what you want about flaws in his game — and there are plenty — but he’s 20-0-1 with 19 knockouts, and now he’s got a WBA interim belt to prove it. While other fighters crumble under pressure or go out on points, Wardley just keeps swinging. He’s not the most technical guy in the division. He might not even be in the top five skills-wise. But if you can’t put him away, you’d better not blink.
He’s the reason heavyweights are never safe.
PIERCE O’LEARY DEF. LIAM DILLON – UNANIMOUS DECISION (116-112, 115-113, 117-112)
Pierce O’Leary kept his unbeaten record intact and left with two belts slung over his shoulder. He outboxed, outclassed, and outfought a game but overmatched Liam Dillon to become the WBC International and EBU European super lightweight champion. O’Leary started sharp, worked the angles, and made Dillon feel the power early in round three. Dillon tried to answer back with single right hands, but his moments were few and scattered.
The Dublin fighter stayed composed, switched targets, and mixed up his work while Dillon kept trudging forward. Credit to Dillon for staying in it and throwing, but it was O’Leary’s class that separated them. His shot selection, timing, and movement never dropped. Dillon was never out of the fight, but he was always behind. The scorecards were fair — O’Leary did the cleaner, more meaningful work and never lost control.
MIKE PEREZ DEF. STEVEN WARD – TKO9
Perez bullied his way to the WBA Intercontinental cruiserweight title with a ruthless finish in round nine. After a slow start, the Cuban cranked up the pressure, stalking Ward with cruel intent. Ward had some success with body shots in the mid rounds, but Perez laughed in his face and grinned with a gold gumshield. The message was clear: you’re not winning this. By round six, Perez was walking him down. By round eight, he was smashing him up. Two knockdowns in the eighth left Ward badly shaken, and it was only a matter of time. A vicious straight to the body early in the ninth folded Ward, and though he beat the count, his corner had seen enough. They threw the towel in before he could take more punishment. Ward gave it everything, but he couldn’t keep Perez off him. That late surge was brutal, efficient, and cold. Perez didn’t rush—he picked his shots, hunted the finish, and got it. The belt’s going back to Cuba.
NELSON HYSA DEF. PATRICK KORTE – KO2
Total mismatch. Hysa mauled Korte from the opening bell, landing heavy hooks and snapping his head back with every clean shot. Korte took a knee in the first after eating a pair of brutal right hands, then barely survived the round. Hysa came right back and finished the job in the second — another knockdown, another barrage, and Korte was done. No answers, no resistance, just a one-sided beatdown.
LEWIS RICHARDSON DEF. PROTKUNAS – UNANIMOUS DECISION (60-54)
Olympic bronze medalist Lewis Richardson made his pro debut look like a sparring session. He barely took a clean shot across six rounds, controlling every second with slick footwork, sharp punches, and that smooth southpaw style. Protkunas kept coming, but couldn’t land anything meaningful. Richardson boxed with his hands down, switched angles, and picked off his opponent at will. No power threats yet, but the skill level was obvious. He didn’t chase the knockout. He didn’t need to. This was a shutout for a reason — clean, composed, and completely under control.
BILLY ADAMS DEF. ALEXANDER MORALES – POINTS (40-36)
Adams boxed circles around Morales and didn’t lose a second. He stayed light on his feet, mixed levels, and picked his shots clean. Morales tried to close the gap but never laid a glove on him with intent. It was routine, clinical, and exactly what a 7-0 prospect should do to a journeyman. Nothing flashy — just four rounds of pure control. SAM GILLEY VS. GIDEON ONYENANI – DRAW (76-76) Gilley couldn’t handle the pressure and looked lost in the trenches. Onyenani roughed him up inside, turned it into a phonebooth fight, and never let him get comfy. Gilley tried to box but got bullied into survival mode. Ugly fight, fair result?
UMAR KHAN DEF. MOISES GARCIA – UNANIMOUS DECISION (79-72)
Khan boxed well enough but looked like he was sparring, not fighting. He flashed quick combos, then coasted through long stretches without urgency. Garcia had zero answers but never looked close to folding. It was one-sided — and still forgettable.
JACK WILLIAMS DEF. FERNANDO JOAQUIN VALDEZ – POINTS (40-36)
Easy work for Williams, who barely got out of second gear. He stayed patient, sharp, and accurate against a guy with one win in seventeen tries. Valdez soaked up the punches but offered no real threat. Williams cruised through all four rounds, barely touched, and banked the clean sweep without breaking a sweat.
LILLIE WINCH DEF. KATERINA DVORAKOVA – UNANIMOUS DECISION (60-54)
Winch kept it clean, sharp, and all business from the opening bell. She jabbed, pivoted, and shut Dvorakova down without taking risks. The Czech fighter tried to force a brawl but never got past the front door. Pure control — every round, every second.
