Confident.
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That is how Raymond Terrace professional boxer Jack Maris is feeling ahead of his fight on the Gold Coast next month against Tokyo Olympics contender Justis Huni.
"I'm feeling good, well prepared," Maris said. "I'm confident that I can win."
Results-wise, Maris, aged 34, and Huni, 21, are evenly matched. Both have two professional fights under their belts for two wins.
Huni, from the Gold Coast, made his professional debut in 2019 - a fight that earned him the Australian heavyweight title.
He qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Due to a change to eligibility rules before the Rio 2016 Olympics, professional boxers are now able to compete at the Games.
Maris made his professional debut with a unanimous decision win against experienced Australian boxer Jeff King in Lake Macquarie in 2019.
His last professional fight was in front of a home crowd at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club in March 2020, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
Maris claimed a second unanimous decision win, this time against US boxer Clarence Tillman.
The pandemic has meant no fight opportunities for Maris, but he has not taken his foot off the pedal.
Maris has been training consistently - twice a day, six days a week - throughout the past year.
"I've been training non-stop just waiting until I can get back into the ring again," he said.
The opportunity came calling when Huni's trainer reached out to his own, Peter Hallet.
"They have trouble finding people to fight Justis," Hallet, from Tuff'N Up Boxing, said.
"They rang and asked if we wanted the fight. I asked Jack and he said 'yeah I want it'.
"Opportunities like this don't happen often. This fight could open the door to new opportunities for Jack. What those opportunities are, we don't know yet. But the door is open."
Maris, who stands at 6' 9" and weighs in at 110 kilograms, has been training with Hallet for five years.
They train at Anytime Fitness Raymond Terrace, spar at Newcastle PCYC and Fighting Arts Belmont.
When asked how a year of non-stop training has helped Maris, Hallet said: "He's a lot fitter, a lot more focused and his skills are always rapidly improving."
Maris and Huni will go head-to-head at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in six, three-minute rounds on Saturday, April 10.
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Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
