The Australian strength and conditioning coach who has put the power and punch into Manny Pacquiao for more than a decade says Jeff Horn has made a major mistake by not going to the US to fine-tune his preparations for Sunday?s world title fight.
Justin Fortune?s loyalty to Pacquiao meant there was no room for patriotism yesterday when he was asked how he saw the Suncorp Stadium fight panning out.
?I would have respected the guy more and given him more of a shot if he had gone to America and sparred quality opposition and got use to that style,? Fortune said.
?You?re sparring some guy who is nowhere near close to Pacquiao. What are you, stupid?
?It?s a big mistake. I am from Australia. I got out of here when I was 23.
?That?s what you do. At this level you want to be competitive ? even if he doesn?t win, you go there and it gives you a better chance. You experience the US and that quality of opposition.?
Fortune?s comments were given short shrift by Horn?s trainer Glenn Rushton.
Horn has spent his preparation based in Brisbane and Rushton insisted everything, including the selection of sparring partners, had been done with a plan in mind.
?I think Justin is entitled to his opinion,? Rushton said.
?I disagree. We have the right preparation. Things haven?t happened by chance. What I have done, how I have spared, who I have sparred, now many rounds I have sparred, all incredibly strategic.
?Have I got it right? We will find out on Sunday.?
Fortune, a heavyweight himself who traded blows with world champion Lennox Lewis during his career, joined the Pacquiao camp at the request of the Filipino?s legendary trainer Freddie Roach after moving to Los Angeles in 2002.
As an integral part of Roach?s crew, he helped Pacquiao prepare for his super-fight against Floyd Mayweather and has played a central role in getting the WBO welterweight champion ready for Horn.
Asked whether he had any reservations about his involvement with Pacquiao given he will be fighting an Australian, Fortune said: ?That has nothing to do with it. I don?t know this guy from a bar of soap. Manny has been my friend for 15 years. We?re not going to war ? it is a sporting match.
?If he was fighting a koala bear I would say take it easy, that?s my national animal. But this is the fight game. It?s boxing. You?re in the hurt business. As far as business goes, my guy needs to beat your guy.
?I don?t care who you are. He (Horn) hasn?t got the chin. He has been knocked down by much, much lesser opponents than Pacquiao. This is a whole level you don?t know. We all want to see people knocked out ? it is a blood business. You?re at the triple AAA level. This kid is not there yet. That?s why I am saying if this kid had gone to the States and trained his ring out and experienced it, it might have been a different ball game.?
Fortune has given little thought to the prospect of Pacquiao losing on Sunday.
However, he concedes if Horn does topple the champion and produces one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history, it may be time for Pacquiao to consider his future in the sport.
?If he doesn?t get rid of Jeff in under six (rounds), he should consider dropping to (junior welterweight) pounds or consider retiring,? Fortune said.
?I expect Jeff to come and fight. There is definitely no dog in him. That?s in our best interests ? not in his.
?Everyone says Manny is only a little guy and he is. But he is stupidly strong.
?If he can?t knock him out then you should seriously consider retiring. I was confident until Lennox Lewis beat me. You have to be confident, but there is also reality.
?This is a guy you have to knock out.?
