Freddie Roach believes Manny Pacquiao will make his bout with Jeff Horn “short and sweet,” even though it’s been a long while since Pacquiao pulled off a stoppage victory.
But if the Filipino world champion plans on arranging one last huge payday, he needs to make trainer Roach’s prediction happen.
Pacquiao will defend his welterweight title against Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia on Sunday, hoping he can score a convincing win and a final lucrative fight deal before he calls it a career.
Most people believe the fight will be an easy one for Pacquiao since he will be facing a challenger who has no experience standing on a stage of this magnitude.
This is Pacquiao’s 68th career fight, nearly 4 times as many as Horn, who will engage in only his 18th bout in the pro ranks. While Pacquiao has figured in numerous world-title bouts, this is Horn’s first.
Roach, Pacquiao’s long-time trainer, believes the fight won’t go the distance.
“We’re chasing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather and we know he has to score a spectacular knockout win over Jeff Horn if that’s going to happen,” Roach said.
“I’m looking for a big win in Brisbane so we can go on to bigger and better things.
“I’ve been looking for a big knockout from him for a long time now and I think you’re going to see it in this fight.”
Given each boxer’s style and their disparity in experience, veteran boxing commentator Ed Tolentino agrees that a stoppage victory is possible.
“Yes, I think Manny can end the knockout streak,” Tolentino said. “He just has to be careful with getting too cocky or complacent.”
Tolentino is referring to a prolonged stretch of KO-less wins by Pacquiao, whose trademark used to be those spectacular finishes.
Since he kayoed Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico in November 2009 ? the first time Pacquiao held the world welterweight championship ? Pacquiao’s victories have all gone to the scorecards.
Given that his goal is to land another big-money fight in the US, preferably a rematch with Mayweather, a victory decided by the judges won’t cut it for Pacquiao.
“If he wants people to talk about a rematch, then he must demolish Horn,” Tolentino said. “The prevailing opinion is that if Pacquiao can’t stop Horn, who is supposed to be tailor-made for him, then nobody will be interested in a Mayweather rematch.”
According to Dennis Principe, a boxing media expert, history has shown that being the shorter fighter didn’t stop Pacquiao from pummeling his opponent.
“Height has never been an issue for Manny. If you look at (Antonio) Margarito, (Oscar) De La Hoya, (Miguel) Cotto, Joshua Clottey… wala naman. Hindi naman naging issue,” he said.
“Actually naging favorable pa kay Manny because, once umabot siya ng ganung weight, ang tendency ay babagal ka.”
But if Horn, who at 5-foot-9 stands more than 2 inches taller than Pacquiao, comes in big and heavy on Sunday, the task of flooring Horn may be easier said than done.
“Kung masyadong malaki si Jeff Horn then the more na mahihirapan (si Pacquiao) na pabagsakin siya,” fight commentator Dennis Principe said. “Pero it doesn’t mean na dehado si Manny.”
Pacquiao has a 59-6-2, win-loss-draw record, while Jeff Horn has won 16 times and settled for a draw once.
“Game face is on, school’s out”
During Saturday’s weigh-in, Pacquiao tipped the scales at 146 pounds and Horn came in 146 pounds and change.
Horn, a former schoolteacher, said he was ready for the biggest moment of his boxing life.
“Game face is on, school’s out,” Horn told reporters.
“I’m nice and relaxed. I’ll probably still maintain my relaxed state until fight day but I’m really looking forward to getting out there tomorrow and getting the job done.”
Pacquiao, 38, an eight-weight world champion and one of the greatest fighters of his generation, did not make any comments and quickly left the weigh-in ceremony.
“It’s never easy to lose that much weight,” Horn said.
“I’m going to feel a lot better very soon. I’ve got to go eat as soon as I finish with the media, keep drinking, keep up with the fluids all day, all night.”
Trainer Glenn Rushton said Horn looked superb in his final training session late Friday.
“He was brilliant, he was just like I want him to be. He was toey, he was just electric,” Rushton said.
“I know when he’s hitting the pads there’s just extra pop there in his punches. I just felt the hunger. That’s what I look for.” ? With a report from Agence France-Presse
