Australian challenger Jeff Horn insists Manny Pacquiao has this impression that all it takes for him to win on July 2 in Brisbane is show up at the Suncorp Stadium.
“I can tell by his body language that Pacquiao thinks he already has the fight won,’’ Horn told the Australian media.
Horn’s assessment stems from Pacquiao’s belief that somebody like Horn, who’s only got 17 fights against mid-level opposition, doesn’t have the craft and cunning to come up with a superhuman effort to upset him.
But Horn swears Pacquiao’s mindset is flawed and that the 38-year-old Filipino is doomed to fall before an expected capacity crowd of 55,000.
“I’m planning to give him a big surprise,” said Horn, younger by nine years and certainly fresher and more motivated than the eight-division titleholder.
So focused and determined Horn is in his challenge of Pacquiao that he has kicked off a crucial phase of his buildup.
Tapped to mimic Pacquiao’s whirlwind, two-fisted attack is unbeaten lefty Liam Paro, acknowledged as one of Australia’s hottest prospects.
The decision to tap Paro as one of the sparring partners was lauded by no less than Horn’s camp, saying Paro gave a very good account of himself in Horn’s first sparring held at the Stretton Gym.
