IT?S been a rocky road to the biggest fight in Australian boxing history but Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday confirmed the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao fight would finally take place at Brisbane?s Suncorp Stadium on July 2.
And even though ?Fighting Schoolteacher?? Horn will start the Battle of Brisbane a massive underdog against one of the greatest boxers in history, he has a good chance of scoring one of the biggest wins ever in Australian sport. WBO welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines. Picture: Isaac Brekken
After months of mind games, Pacquiao has finally agreed to fight Horn in a bout which will bring the eyes of the sporting world to the River City.
The Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council yesterday signed contracts to underwrite it, believing it will create a huge economic boost to the state and showcase the Sunshine State to a television audience in 180 countries.
Pacquiao is a Filipino senator and an 11-time world boxing champion who has made $500 million from the sport.
He will be defending his WBO welterweight title against Horn, the No. 2 contender.
Congratulating Horn yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk said that after months of speculation, ?we?re finally all in the ring for this fight to go ahead?.
?Up to 55,000 boxing fans from across Australia and the world are expected to fill Suncorp Stadium to see the local teacher taking on one of the biggest names in boxing history, on his home turf,?? she said. Brisbane schoolteacher Jeff Horn with Mayor Graham Quirk and Tourism Minister Kate Jones, will fight Manny Pacquiao for the world welterweight title. Picture: Annette Dew
?The match is a highlight on the state?s major events calendar and is set to deliver an expected $15.8 million economic boost to the city.?
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Kate Jones said securing the fight was a major coup for Brisbane and the local tourism industry.
?We?ve always said we?d be keen to host a boxing match of this calibre, as long as it stacked up for Queensland taxpayers,? Ms Jones said.
?Brisbane will be pumping as the nation gets behind our local champion.
?This blockbuster event will raise Queensland?s profile in many of our key international tourism markets including the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, China and South-East Asia.??
Minister for Sport, Mick de Brenni said elite boxing attracted some of the largest audiences of any sport.
?Queensland has always punched above our weight in most sports and now we?ve cemented our state as the premier venue for major events in Australia,?? Mr de Brenni said.
?We?ve seen plenty of State of Origin legends throw some punches here but this spectacle of the kid from Brisbane taking on a boxing legend, will be something people will talk about for years to come.
?Installation of new screens is under way at Suncorp Stadium, and if everything goes to plan we?ll see Horn vs. Pacquiao in massive, high definition LED.?
The world title fight was secured by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland in partnership with the Brisbane City Council and Suncorp Stadium.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, who is also Horn?s second cousin, said the bout would be an important addition to the city?s major events schedule.
?Hosting the world-title fight will place Brisbane firmly in the international spotlight and once gain demonstrate the city?s ability to host world-class events,? he said.
Duco spokesman Jim Banaghan said this would be the start of something special for Horn.
