Australian heavyweight busting ribs sparring partners Justis Huni Justin Fortune boxing Kiki Leutele

Young Australian heavyweight Justis Huni might be too dangerous for his own good after being forced to disband his US training camp early because he injured his sparring partners.

The 23-year-old has been training in Los Angeles with Justin Fortune, a fellow Aussie who spent almost 20 years as Manny Pacquiao’s strength-and-conditioning coach.

The undefeated Brisbane-based fighter is set to face New Zealand’s Kiki Leutele in Brisbane in early November.

Young Australian heavyweight Justis Huni (pictured landing a body-shot on Joe Goodall) might be too dangerous for his own good after being forced to disband his US training camp early because he injured his sparring partners

Justin Fortune (pictured at his gym in the USA) says the Aussie heavyweight has the same lethal combination of speed and power as Pacquiao and still has a few years before he peaks

Huni may have a 6-0 career record but his perceived lack of punching power leading rivals to say he is more like an amateur fighter concerned with number of punches rather than weight of blows, and that he lacks a proper knockout punch.

Fortune, who was also a heavyweight boxer, has sought to change all that, and the sessions at his Hollywood gym appear to be paying off.

Several of Huni’s sparring partners have had ribs damaged – potentially broken – while training with the Aussie, who has since been nicknamed ‘The Body Snatcher’ around the gym.

‘My power is really coming through now,’ Huni told Foxsports.com.au.

Justis Huni celebrates winning the Heavyweight WBO Oriental & IBF Pan-Pacific Regional title

‘The experience Justin has, the knowledge he brings, it’s crazy. I learned so much and we clicked, especially towards the end of camp.

‘In our first camp together I fell sick with Covid and only did two weeks. But this time it was five weeks – and every day.’

Huni says that he’s not only punching harder, but that has given him extra confidence in the ring.

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‘It just comes with having more power,’ Huni said.

‘When you have power, learn how to put punches together with power, you become more of a bully, more aggressive.

‘I was sparring quality American guys and I was showing I belong up there with them. And I’m now excited to show people that.’

Fortune believes Huni is always improving and still has a few years before he reaches his full potential. 

 ‘He’s fast and strong enough to use it all to his advantage; he thinks, he plans an attack and executes it well,’ he said.

‘He’s 23, and won’t peak until he’s 26, 27.’

‘(It’s the) same as with working with Manny; he’s very strong but he’s ridiculously fast.’

Huni (pictured landing a right hand on Goodall) says that he’s not only punching harder, but he’s a more aggressive fighter now, too

However the Leutele camp is not convinced, labelling Huni an ‘unproven hype job’.

‘Justis has a lot of pressure on him,’ said Isaac Peach, coach of Leutele. 

‘He hasn’t knocked anyone out, hasn’t done much of anything.’

The heavyweights will face each other at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on Friday, November 4.