Main event, start time, weigh-ins, round-by-round results; Rising star on guard for ‘absolutely filthy’ tactics

Justis Huni is prepared to fight fire with fire if Joe Goodall resorts to “dirty” tactics in an attempt to win the heavyweight blockbuster fight between the pair.

The two Australian giants will go toe-to-toe inside Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on Wednesday night, with a shot at entering the world’s top-15 on the line.

However, Huni isn’t fazed by the thought of any unorthodox moves that he might face from his former sparring partner.

“We know he’s going to come out and bang because I think he knows that I’m the better boxer out of the two of us,” he told reporters ahead of the fight.

“So I think he’s going to turn it into a fight and try and do some dirty tactics, but we’ll be ready for that.

“If he wants to try and do that, I’m ready, I’m willing to go to war. I’ve done all the hard work for this fight, so I’m ready for whatever.”

Much has been made of Huni’s perceived lack of power, particularly with Australian boxing icon Jeff Fenech questioning the 23-year-old’s ability to sit on his punches and move away from the amateur style of fighting.

Goodall didn’t mince his words regarding Huni’s power, doubting whether he could potentially be dropped from a single punch. It’s a slight that Huni is getting used to hearing.

“It doesn’t bother me, I want to get in there and prove everyone wrong,” he said.

“You don’t need to have the most power to be the best. My boxing ability is going to get me to where I need to get to.

“Whatever anyone says about power this, power that, all it takes is one shot in this division.

“Just imagine when I land one, what are they all going to say then? It doesn’t bother me.

“I believe I’ve got a better skill set, better boxing ability, and I’ve got a better boxing IQ, that’s what I can’t wait to show everyone.”

Despite Huni’s confidence, Lonergan reiterated the need for the referee to be on top of any underhanded tactics from the Goodall camp.

“I expect Joe Goodall to be absolutely filthy and do things we’ve never seen before because that’s what Kevin Barry would’ve taught him,” he said.

“I will be having a talk to the referee and saying, ‘If any of this shit goes on, you’ve got to be deducting points’. At the end of the day, I can’t influence what the referee does or doesn’t do, all I can do is make him aware of what I think is going to happen.

“I do not want to see the carry-on that I know Kevin Barry is capable of teaching this kid to do. You talk about a filthy fight, we’re in for it tonight because Kevin Barry’s already said in the media that it’s the only way they can win.”