Justis Huni Lodges Appeal — Could Wardley’s Victory Be Overturned?

Fabio Wardley celebrates in the ring as Justis Huni lies face down on the canvas, with the referee counting — capturing the moment at the centre of the Huni Wardley protest."

Seriously? A Protest Over That Knockout?

Look, no disrespect to Justis Huni or his team, but when I heard they were filing an official complaint over the referee’s count in Saturday night’s fight with Fabio Wardley, I genuinely thought it was a wind-up. I watched the fight live. I watched it again the next day. And I’ve got to be honest — even if the ref had counted to twenty, Huni still wouldn’t have made it up.

You can check out our breakdown of the full fight here if you missed it. Yes, Huni was doing well on the cards. He took control after round two, looked composed, and was picking Wardley off at times. But once that right hand detonated in the tenth, everything changed. The man’s soul briefly left his body.

Let’s Talk About the Count

The claim being made in this Huni Wardley protest is that the referee counted too quickly — which is bold considering that by the count of eight, Huni was still on the floor. He hadn’t even started trying to get up properly. Whether the ref had counted slow, fast, or taken a tea break halfway through, it wouldn’t have made a blind bit of difference.

He was done. Flat out. Legs gone. You could see the moment the punch landed that he wasn’t going to recover. Even if, by some miracle, he’d staggered to his feet, the referee would’ve had every right to wave it off based on his condition.

Should We Get a Rematch?

Honestly? I wouldn’t say no.

Despite how it ended, this was shaping up to be a solid learning fight for both men. Huni’s jab was sharp, and he showed he could deal with Wardley’s pressure. Fabio, meanwhile, reminded us he’s never out of a fight — even when he’s losing. But overturning the result? Not happening.

Unless there’s evidence of corruption or blatant malpractice — and counting at a pace someone doesn’t like isn’t that — the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) won’t go near this. A rematch might happen, sure, but not because of a protest. More likely because there’s unfinished business, and it sells.

What Does This Mean for Huni?

The Huni Wardley protest is clearly about saving face as much as anything else. Huni came into this fight undefeated. He was meant to win. And for nine rounds, he was doing just that. But boxing doesn’t hand out wins on points before the final bell.

This KO loss doesn’t ruin his career — far from it. He’s still young, talented, and marketable. But he’ll have to live with the fact that one lapse cost him everything. As for Wardley, this could be the win that finally earns him the global respect he’s been chasing.

Final Verdict: Protest Denied?

Let’s not overthink this. The referee’s count was perfectly fair. Huni got caught. He stayed down. End of story. A rematch might be fun — and if Huni wants it, he’ll have to earn it the traditional way, not through complaints and appeals.

Over to You — Fair Protest or Sour Grapes?

Was Huni hard done by, or is this just a desperate attempt to rewrite a brutal ending? Let us know what you think in the comments and join the debate on our socials.
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