Horn faces torrid test

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397

2JEFF Horn is anticipating a torrid test from Michael Zerafa tonight, which will tell him if his pressure style can succeed at middleweight, where a boxing world title opportunity looms large later this year.

The former WBO welterweight champion will have his first fight at middleweight when he fights Victorian Zerafa for three regional titles at Bendigo Stadium.

Neither man has ever lost a professional fight to another Australian. Queenslander Horn (19-1-1, 13 KOs) scaled 72.25kg and Victorian Zerafa (26-3, 15 KOs) came in at 72.15kg.

At welterweight, Horn successfully applied pressure, though Zerafa pointed out yesterday that was against “smaller dudes”.

Tonight’s fight against a more established middleweight should show if Horn is capable of applying and absorbing pressure at a higher weight. “That’s the test for me, that’s why I’m

Allied Express Pace 1720m 6.02 fighting Michael Zerafa,” Horn said. “I need to fight these bigger guys to know I can actually handle it because I’ve got that world title shot later in the year that’s potentially getting offered.”

Zerafa said Horn had an awkward style and wasn’t averse to using his elbow and head.

“I’ve got to be first, we can’t give him confidence, we can’t give him room to move and bully us,” Zerafa said.

He has needled Horn throughout the build-up and tossed more barbs his way yesterday. “I just saw a weak person,” he doesn’t look fit,” Zerafa said.

Horn chuckled when he heard that remark and also rejected Zerafa’s assertion that being heavier would make him slower, saying trainer Glenn Rushton had worked hard on his legs and he hadn’t lost any mobility.

He’s adamant he isn’t being distracted by the prospect of a mooted world title shot on December 23 in Japan against WBA regular middleweight champion Ryota Murata. 6 My Lightning Blue Free For All 1720m 8.00