Fabio Wardley pulled off a shocking victory in Ipswich on Saturday night. 

Losing almost every round against Australia’s Justis Huni, Wardley connected with a huge right hand to end the fight halfway through round 10.

Huni (12-1, 7 KOs), was on his way to a statement win, and spoiling the rain drenched party at Ipswich Town Football Club’s Portman Road stadium, before succumbing to a howitzer of a right hand from Wardley.

Punchers are born; not made, and Wardley is proof of that. Having no amateur background and basically learning on the job, Wardley has blasted his way to a 19-0-1 professional record.

From the off, Huni  quietened the hometown crowd with a crisp jab, slick movement and accurate, stinging punches.

The first couple of rounds were shared, but after that Huni put on a magnificent display of boxing.

Wardley struggled. The speed and angles of Huni were too much for him. He bit at every feint, couldn’t get his head out of the way of Huni’s sharp punches and absorbed some crippling body shots; he was a beaten man.

The crowd was silent as they watched a technician at work. Huni was on his way to the best win of his career, and to giving Eddie Hearn the chance to gloat over Frank Warren.

It wasn’t to be. Maybe Huni got complacent. Maybe it was too easy for him? But in the 10th round, all of the amazing work he’d done up to that point came to a grinding halt, courtesy of Wardley’s right hand.

As Huni threw his own right hand, Wardley slipped to his left and uncoiled a show-stopping right, that landed flush on Huni’s chin.

Huni looked out cold, but he somehow got up at the count of ten, on hollow legs. The referee, rightly, waved the fight off.

A harsh ending for Huni, who you feel deserved more; but this is boxing. Heavyweight boxing at that.

Wardley goes on to fight another day. He was outclassed, but he stuck at it and reaped his rewards.

What the future holds for Wardley is yet to be seen. He’s never in a dull fight, has a fantastic fan base and is in the wise hands of Frank Warren.

Frank will need to tread carefully when matching Wardley over the next couple of fights. His lack of foundation and fundamentals is plain for all to see, but his heart, tenacity and power cannot be questioned.

He’s box office.

Images: Getty