WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao insists he’s never heard of Australian fighter Jeff Horn – reportedly his next challenger – but he’d love to meet him one day.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has touted Horn, managed by Auckland-based Duco Events, as his fighter’s next opponent on April 22, either in the United Arab Emirates or Australia.
But either word of that match genuinely hasn’t reached the champ yet or his minds games with the little-known Aussie have already begun.
“I don’t know him,” Pacquiao told Fox Sport News.
Still, Pacquiao was openly receptive to the idea of taking his act to Australia to fight Horn in what is essentially being dubbed as a “world tour”.
“I’m hoping that the fight will be in Australia, I’d love to do that,” he said.
Pacquiao continued by re-asserting that he’s still at peak form as a fighter, but declined to comment on Jeff Horn’s chances against him, after admitting that he’s never seen Horn fight before.
In fact, he’s never even seen Horn’s face before.
Jeff Horn (left) in action against Alfredo Blanco in the Road to the Title Fight card at The Trusts Stadium. Photo/Dean Purcell
Horn (16-0-1, 11KO) reached the 2012 Olympic quarter-finals, before falling to eventual silver medalist Denys Berinchyk.
