Horn says Pacquiao now running scared

WORLD champion Jeff Horn wants to fight at the MCG in front of 100,000 fans – but it likely won’t be a rematch against Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, one of the legends of world boxing, has already baulked at a rematch in Brisbane this year and Horn believes the boxer-cum-Philippines senator doesn’t want to fight him again.

Asked if he thought Pacquiao was “running scared”, Horn said: “I think he’s worried, yep … he would hate losing to me.

“To end your career on a loss, and he’s lost to me already, and if he comes back and loses again, that would hurt him more than saying that’s it (career over).”

Horn was told by his US promoter Bob Arum that Pacquiao didn’t want to fight him a second time.

One reason given was Pacquiao now wanted to concentrate on his political career.

The other reason was the indignity of losing to Horn again.

“I really think it’s way less the political side,” he said.

“He’s using that as an excuse, but he actually doesn’t believe he’s got what it takes to beat me now.

“I’ve improved since (the fight) then thanks to Pacquiao.

“You steal a little bit of their experience and I’m like it’s going to be 10 times harder the next time.”

Horn’s first defence of his WBO world welterweight title will be against British fighter Gary “Hellraiser” Corcoran on December 13 at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

Corcoran is one of 12 siblings and has eight brothers and lives in a gypsy-style camp in a caravan with his wife and two children in London.

The 26-year-old’s record is 17-1 with 7 KOs.

He is described as being a similar-styled fighter to Horn – a walk-forward slugger.

“I know he’s hungry and he’s happy to have gotten this fight and believes he can win it,” Horn said. “He looks at me and thinks how lucky is he to get a shot against a guy who he thinks is the most beatable.

“I think bullcrap, you’ve got the hardest one of the bunch.”

Horn has two fights scheduled under Arum and then has his sights on a couple of American fighters, namely Keith Thurman who is a unified welterweight world champion, having held the WBA title since 2015 and the WBC title since March 2017.