Boxer Huni back in ring after horror run

Justis Huni is set to finally return to the ring on the undercard of Jai Opetaia's world title fight against Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast in May.

The 22-year-old Australian heavyweight champion's career has stalled in the past 12 months after a horrific run with injury and illness.

Huni hasn't fought since last June when he damaged his hand while beating former NRL star Paul Gallen, which ruled him out of the Tokyo Olympics.

After recovering from that, Huni contracted COVID-19 twice as well as an elbow injury but is set to take on Kiki Lutele on the same card as Opetaia at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on May 11.

"I'm very excited to get back in the ring," Huni told AAP.

"I feel like an old man with all of the injuries but hopefully it's behind me now.

"I'm only five fights in but I feel like I've had a lifetime of injury and then illness so hopefully I can get the ball rolling now in 2022."

New Zealand's Lutele has a 7-1-2 professional record, with his only loss coming last year against Demsey McKean.

Huni (5-0-0) spent a month over Christmas training in Los Angeles under Justin Fortune, the former trainer of the legendary Manny Pacquiao.

He was preparing for a February fight with fellow Australian Joseph Goodall, but that was delayed to June 1 after Huni was hit by COVID-19 in LA and then a different strain after he returned home to Australia in mid-January.

Opetaia's fight with IBF cruiserweight champion Briedis was set down for April 6 but also had to be pushed back after the Latvian veteran also contracted the virus.

The fight is the first world title showdown in Australia since 2017, when Jeff Horn defended his WBO welterweight crown against Gary Corcoran via TKO.

Sydney southpaw Opetaia downed Daniel Russell last December with a TKO in the third round while 17 of his 21 professional victories have come via knockout.