- Justis Huni has maintained his undefeated record
- The Australian heavyweight star defeated his rival in two rounds
- He is on his way to fighting for the world heavyweight title.
Justis Huni successfully defended his WBO heavyweight world title with a knockout victory over Troy Pilcher in the second round.
Huni’s mantra ahead of Thursday night’s fight was “more aggressive, more entertaining” and he delivered on that promise with the fight at Fortitude Valley Music Hall lasting just two minutes and 20 seconds in the second round.
The 25-year-old remains undefeated in 10 fights as he targets a world title shot in 2026.
Brisbane-based Huni said before the fight that he had no intention of going the full 10 rounds.
Pilcher, who was previously unbeaten in 10 fights, came out fast and furious, but Huni was too quick and too powerful, landing body shots with his left and right.
The boxer known as “the wonder from below” was in wonderful shape
Huni opened with a powerful combination of lefts and rights to the body with a left hook that shook his opponent.
The second round was a one-way fight and Pilcher was on the ropes physically and metaphorically when the referee stopped the fight.
Justis Huni extended his undefeated record after beating Troy Pilcher on Thursday
The Australian heavyweight crushed his undefeated rival in Brisbane
Pilcher had no answer to the ferocity of the Huni offensive.
“I knew he would come out with force and try to suffocate me,” Huni told AAP.
‘I just had to pick my moments and I knew the body shots would wear him out and then my moment came.
‘I felt much more comfortable with a more aggressive style. I don’t want to be remembered for fighting 10 rounds. It was good to go in and punish my opponent.
“I feel good. I have no injuries and I feel fresh.”
Huni had said he had “bad intentions” towards Pilcher after studying Mike Tyson’s methodology in the run-up to the showdown.
It was Huni’s first fight on home soil in nearly two years since he defeated New Zealander Kiki Leutele in a unanimous points decision.
Huni said he now had bigger fish to catch as he aims to achieve his dream of a world title.
“These belts don’t mean much to me. What I want are the big belts,” he said.
He remains on track for a heavyweight title fight in two years.
“These are just steps that take me to where I want to go. I have a good team behind me and they are pushing me to go all the way.”
The undercard included an Australian light heavyweight title fight between Queensland’s Clay ‘The Weapon’ Waterman and Victoria’s Lucas ‘Thriller’ Miller, the defending champion.
Waterman, the new Australian champion, won a 10-round classic with a unanimous points decision 97-91, 97-91, 97-91.
Waterman, 28, knocked down Miller, 35, in the second and sixth rounds, but the southpaw refused to back down.
Waterman (13-1-0) deserved his victory and was on the front foot for most of the fight.
