SHOULD a rematch with Manny Pacquiao fail to materialise, there is no shortage of big fights for new champion Jeff Horn.
The welterweight division is teeming with talent, but the promotional stable of Top Rank boss Bob Arum will be a key factor in where Horn?s career travels from here.
It was Arum who made possible the fight against Pacquiao, and he also promotes Tim Bradley, a natural rival for Horn.
WORLD CHAMP: FORGET STATS, HORN DESERVED TITLE
Bradley was ringside for Horn?s victory against Pacquiao, and is No. 2 in line for the title.
Bradley also scored a controversial win over Pacquiao in 2012, before losing two further bouts to the Filipino star.
Horn?s promoters Duco Events have formed an amicable alliance with Arum, and a Horn-Bradley fight would make sense if Pacquiao decides to retire or not pursue a rematch with the Australian.
Even factoring in a rematch, the records will always show Horn holding a win over Pacquiao, which boosts his marketing credibility enormously ? essential for a fighter who doesn?t trash talk.
Other star welterweights under Arum?s Top Rank banner include Juan Manuel Marquez, Jessie Vargas, Konstantin Ponomarev, Mike Alvarado and Alex Saucedo.
A fight against Marquez or Vargas would generate significate money for Horn. A fight against Mexico?s Juan Manuel Marquez (left) would generate a big payday for Jeff Horn.
Arum also spoke of the potential for his best fighter, undefeated light welterweight champion Terence Crawford, moving up to welterweight to fight for Horn?s title.
These potential fights will ensure that Horn earns upwards of $1 million for at least his next two fights ? more if he keeps winning.
Horn is keen to unify the welterweight division and that would mean fights against other champions Keith Thurman, Errol Spence Jr and Danny Garcia.
Those would be huge paydays, but all would likely have to be held overseas.
British star Kell Brook is another big-name rival, and if Horn fancies his chances at super-welterweight, he would be in the realm of greats Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez.
Horn may have had only 17 professional bouts, but victory over Pacquiao has guaranteed a plethora of exciting options for the 29-year-old former schoolteacher.
Interestingly, Arum also has fellow Australian Lenny Zappavigna on his books. Zappavigna is fighting at light-welterweight but would likely be willing to jump up one weight class for a huge Aussie showdown against Horn, who could use it as a keep-busy fight in future.
The Pacquiao-Horn bout, televised on ESPN instead of pay-per-view, was the most watched boxing event on a cable channel in the United States in the past decade.
These are exciting times for Australian boxing, and Horn has a rare opportunity to transcend the sport and become a global star.
