A LITTLE-KNOWN Englishman nicknamed ?Hellraiser? has emerged as the prime candidate to fight Jeff Horn in November.
London?s Gary Corcoran is understood to be top of a list of four fighters negotiating to fight Horn in Brisbane.
News Corp can reveal that the Hornet vs. Hellraiser match-up has gained serious traction in the last few days.
The other three fighters in contention to take on Horn in his first WBO welterweight world title defence are England?s Bradley Skeete, American Ray Robinson and Argentina?s Adrian Luciano Veron.
A decision will be made within a week and a formal announcement expected in the next fortnight.
Skeete, who is ranked third in the WBO, would be a tougher opponent for Horn and baited the Australian over the weekend.
After being linked to the Horn bout last week, Skeete (27-1, 12KO) wrote on Twitter directly to Horn and his Top Rank promoter Bob Arum: ?I?m ready and waiting to sign the contract? Hope your [sic] not getting cold feet #ReadyWhenYouAre?.
But Corcoran (17-1, 7KO) shapes as the more likely Brit to get the shot.
The fight would be held at Brisbane?s Entertainment Centre on November 25, just two days after the Ashes cricket series begins in the same city.
The masses of travelling Barmy Army supporters in Brisbane for the opening Test would no doubt jump on the Hellrazor bandwagon, creating a raucous atmosphere inside the 13,500-seat arena.
But it?s understood that unlike the outdoor Suncorp Stadium bout in which Horn defeated Manny Pacquiao, this fight will be tailored to high-end fight fans, and a dress code of black ties and gowns will be enforced for patrons at ringside and in corporate suites.
Horn (17-0-1, 11KO) was forced to look at other opponents after Pacquiao pulled out of a rematch a fortnight ago citing senatorial duties.
A Filipino senator, Pacquiao apparently had a mandatory visit to China during what would have been his training camp for the Horn rematch.
But then Pacquiao seemed to contradict that by telling Filipino media he wanted the rematch with Horn in November to be held in Manila, which will not happen because the rematch clause stated it would have to be in Australia.
If Horn retains the title in his next bout, it?s expected he will get the rematch with Pacquiao within the first five months of 2018.
While Skeete is ranked third by the WBO, Veron is eighth, Robinson 10th and Corcoran 11th.
Robinson, who shares names with one of the greatest pugilists of all time and is nicknamed ?The New Ray Robinson?, has a record of 24-2 (12KO).
Veron (21-1, 13KO) has the best knockout ratio of all the contenders but is scheduled to fight countryman Cesar Miguel Barrionueva in October and that bout would have to be cancelled if he is to take the Horn bout.
