MANILA, Philippines ? Jeff Horn is talking about Manny Pacquiao?s weaknesses inside the ring before his promoters could seal the deal for him to fight the future Hall of Famer on April 23 in Brisbane.
The 28-year-old Horn, who had a decent amateur background before he turned pro, said what happened to Pacquiao against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 could happen again.
?Manny Pacquiao?s weakness is that he does jump around a bit too much, even though that?s a strength as well, he?s hard to hit. When he does get hit and he goes the wrong way, he runs into it like he did with Marquez,? he told On the Ropes Boxing Radio.
It?s when Pacquiao jumps into his opponent when he?s most vulnerable, according to Horn, undefeated in 17 fights (with a draw) since turning pro in 2013, following an unsuccessful stint in the 2012 London Olympics.
Horn, a schoolteacher, said he idolized Pacquiao and watched the latter?s fights as he fought as an amateur. But he said if and when he gets the chance, he might find the way to stop the 38-year-old senator.
The way Marquez did.
?I?m hoping to be able to time him well and make him run into one of my punches which would double the power and hopefully put a stop to Pacquiao,? he said.
?I?ve fought all over the world and I?ve had a lot of fights against some top fighters. I think I?ve got the skills. I see myself beating Pacquiao and I think I definitely got the power. If I land on Pacquiao especially when he?s coming forward into me, I could hurt him,? Horn told On the Ropes.
Arum is sitting down with Horn?s handlers from Duco Events in Las Vegas today, each one of them hoping to reach a deal that would bring Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, Down Under.
If it happens, it?s Pacquiao?s first fight outside the United States and Macau the past decade.
Pacquiao is looking at two fights this year or three if he gets lucky, and according to Arum any of these fights could take place in places Pacquiao had never seen before, like Russia.
But for the meantime, Arum is looking at Brisbane, at the massive Suncorp Stadium, as Pacquiao?s next stop.
Waiting for the results of the meeting between Arum and Duco Events people should keep Horn up all night.
?We won?t know for sure until Tuesday or Wednesday Australian time. My promoter is going over there to try to seal the deal with them at the moment,? he said.
