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Australian boxers seek gold rush at Tokyo

3 minute read

Heavyweight contender Justis Huni is confident Australia's long wait for Olympic boxing gold will end in Tokyo.

He's regarded as Australia's best shot at finally winning Olympic boxing gold but heavyweight Justis Huni won't be surprised if there's more than one champion flying home from Tokyo.

Huni was unveiled on Tuesday as part of a six-strong Australian boxing team for the 2021 Games, with the 22-year-old viewed as a serious challenger for the heavyweight gold medal.

Australia has only ever claimed four medals in Olympic boxing, three bronze and a single silver.

Grahame Cheney's light-welterweight silver in 1988 was the last time an Australian stood on a boxing podium at the Games but Huni fully expects that drought to end in Tokyo.

"There's more than enough talent," Huni said.

"I think all of us have a high chance of bringing back a gold medal."

As well as Huni, Australia's team includes 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Harry Garside and Skye Nicolson.

They'll join 2014 Youth Olympian Caitlin Parker, light heavyweight Paulo Aokuso and youngster Alex Winwood.

Huni says the stripped-back nature of the Games, with no fans and basically no interaction beyond each fight has simplified the task for each boxer in Tokyo.

"It just makes it easier for the team and I to just get over there and do what we've trained for," Huni said.

"Nothing more than that. I look at it like it's going over there to do what I have been training to do.

"Hopefully we'll get the job done and we can all bring back medals for Australia."

Huni says he's fully recovered from a serious concussion suffered in January when he was thrown onto his head on a pavement while skylarking with a friend.

After extending his professional record to 3-0 with a first-round win over Jack Maris on the Gold Coast last month, Huni is set to fight former NRL player Paul Gallen on June 16.

Despite the likely bout with the ex-Cronulla forward coming just weeks before the Games, Huni is confident there's no risk it will undermine his Olympic dream.

"I think it's good for me. I need to get used to it anyway. They'll definitely be an opponent over in the Olympics that fights like Gallen, sits on my chest," he said.

"I'm going to need it and I'm going to need to get ready for it."

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