IT is fair to say that Justis Huni’s manager, Mick Francis, was not best pleased with the way in which Fabio Wardley’s stunning victory materialised.
In fact, the Aussie has gone as far as to insist that, before long, he will launch an official appeal with the WBA, perhaps hoping to secure an immediate rematch.
Last Saturday’s 10th-round finish emerged after Wardley, 19-0-1 (18 KOs), who was trailing behind on all three judges’ scorecards, landed a crushing right hand to close the show in dramatic fashion.
In doing so, the 30-year-old salvaged what had swiftly become a nightmare homecoming at Portman Road – home of Ipswich Town Football Club – in Suffolk, England.
And yet, despite snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, his remarkable come-from-behind win has since been placed under the microscope.
It was referee John Latham’s count, in particular, that has caused several members of the boxing fraternity, most of all Francis, to cast doubt on the contest.
As it happened, Huni, 12-1 (7 KOs), had scrambled back to his feet shortly after getting floored by the monstrous right hand of Wardley, only for Latham to wave the fight off a moment later.
But it was the speed of the referee’s count that has been lambasted by Francis, who remains determined to take things one step further.
“He [Latham] just waved it off,” Francis told Fox Sports. “I’m lodging a protest with the WBA; we haven’t heard the end of this.
“I’ve already spoken to Eddie Hearn and Spencer [Brown] and they agreed. It’s a f***ing [WBA interim heavyweight] title [fight], not some fight in the park.
“Justis wasn’t wobbly when he got to his feet. Yes, he got hit with a good shot, and if he’d had enough, fair enough. But Justis was putting on a boxing clinic.
“They were looking for any opportunity to give this fight to Wardley.”
In response, Wardley has expressed his thoughts via social media.
On X, he said: “Just making the count isn’t enough. You have to be solid physically, mentally and convince the ref that you’re all there and are ready to continue. Clearly he [Huni] wasn’t.”
With that, the Ipswich man shared a video replay of Latham’s count – along with a 10-second timer – which seemingly portrayed the official’s actions to be accurate.
Either way, there is very little chance that the result will get overturned to a no-contest, and even if an immediate rematch was to be ordered, Wardley would then most likely vacate his WBA interim strap.
