Australian boxing's heavyweight hopeful Justis Huni sharpens tools under Justin Fortune

The combination of speed and strength is enough to make any boxer twice as devastating. So when the renowned boxing coach looks at Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni, he sees a prospect with all the tools to reach the top of the mountain.

Huni is spending two weeks training under Fortune in Los Angeles, soaking up everything he can from boxing legend Pacquiao's former strength coach.

The 22-year-old heavyweight is spending a month in the United States - under Fortune and then at Big Bear with Abel Sanchez - in the lead up to his domestic bout with Joseph Goodall in Brisbane on February 4.

Huni is a prodigious talent, incredibly light on his feet for a man of his stature. They are the tools that took the likes of Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Mike Tyson to the top of the sport and the Australian wants to follow suit.

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"He's a big guy, naturally f--king fast and strong, so the combination of speed and power becomes twice as devastating, especially at heavyweight, but in any division," Fortune said.

"Look at Pacquiao, he is ridiculously strong and stupidly fast, and it's that combination that gives him that [edge]. Look at Tyson, Canelo; speed and power, a mix is good.

"The heavyweight division is not what it used to be 30 years ago, but he can go a long way in the heavyweight division. Look at him mate, he's only 22. Heavyweights don't really mature until usually around 30, 32, and then they keep going.

"They're a different breed. It's a whole different way of training at heavyweight, treating a heavyweight fighter is different, they're not like everyone else. He can go a long way.

"The more experience he gets with good opponents on the job training, he'll learn all the time. The more of that that happens, the more dangerous he becomes."

A win over Goodall could launch Huni into the top 15 in two of world boxing's top sanctioning bodies, putting the 5-0 prospect on the path to stardom.

Huni's promoter Dean Lonergan has hatched a seven-fight plan for 2022, determined to put the rising Queenslander on a collision course with the biggest names in the division.

There are plans for Huni to fight New Zealand's Kiki Toa Leutele on March 23 on the same card as a mooted IBF cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis. A bout with Junior Fa continues to hit roadblocks.

Both Huni and his father and trainer Rocki have a burning desire to fight overseas next year, with Fortune adamant it is an absolute necessity to fast-track a rise up the rankings.

"No offence, I'm Australian, but I don't really give a f-k who he fights in Australia, because it's Australia and we're a small country. Although we produce some ridiculously good athletes, there are just no heavyweights down there," Fortune said.

"From the smaller divisions, yeah, there's plenty of guys out there. But there never has been a lot of heavyweights out there. It's different, you come over here and we've got five gyms within a 10 mile radius that have heavyweights, and they're good heavyweights. It's not our fault, we just don't have that many people.

"I'm sure Dean would definitely have them fight overseas. Why wouldn't you? Fight over here and fight in London where a lot of the good heavyweights are too. That's up to his promoter.

"It would be in his absolute best interest to fight overseas, because listen mate, that's where the money is and that's the end of it. Do you know why they call it prize fighting? Because you get paid, and that's the idea, to get paid."

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