As the major players lay the foundation of the April 23 title fight starring Manny Pacquiao, Australian Jeff Horn insists that he is not a weakling and he has genuine chances of upsetting the Filipino legend.
Obviously slighted by insinuations that Pacquiao would hardly work out a sweat in dispatching him, Horn told Fox Sports (Australia) that he has the “power to hurt Manny.”
Horn, unbeaten in 17 fights against one draw with 11 KOs, is confident he has what it takes to do what Juan Manuel Marquez did to the eight-division champion more than four years ago.
“He’s been knocked down and he’s been knocked out and I’m a heavy puncher so I believe I have a real chance to bring the world title to Australia,” said Horn, who is hoping that his hometown of Brisbane in the state of Queensland, will land the fight.
Horn’s promotional outfit, Duco Promotions, has struck a deal with Bob Arum of Top Rank to stage the fight in Australia although the bout could end up being held in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai or Abu Dhabi, if it doesn’t find a financier Down Under.
Unknown outside Oceania, Horn is ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Organization and is being groomed by no less than Arum to bring back the glory days of Australian boxing.
A member of the Australian team to the 2012 London Olympics, Horn also competed in the 2011 world championships.
Pacquiao has expressed his desire to strut his stuff in Australia provided that he doesn’t end up being served peanuts as his guaranteed purse.
Two weeks ago, Horn and his trainer-manager Glenn Rushton presided over a press conference in Brisbane where it was announced that Pacquiao is going to be paid a measly $5 million, an amount scoffed at by the camp of the Filipino champ.
