MILLIONS ON LINE
Massive payday awaits Horn if he can beat the Hellraiser
ALL Jeff Horn has to do to earn $10 million next year is beat Gary Corcoran tonight. No pressure. The path is virtually mapped out for Horn to become one of Australia’s highest paid athletes next year should he retain his WBO World welterweight title against Englishman Corcoran in Brisbane.
Horn’s last opponent Manny Pacquiao will make a return to the boxing ring in April, most likely against American Mike Alvarado.
Top Rank boss Bob Arum confirmed yesterday the winner of the Horn-Corcoran fight is set to face one of the sport’s best pound-for-pound boxers, Terence Crawford.
“Manny is going to step up (to) the plate again in April,” Arum said.
“Crawford is the mandatory, the winner of this fight has to fight Crawford, that’s a big fight in itself.
“Whoever wins that fight, and if Manny wins this tune-up fight he’s going to do, then the winner of that fight goes against Manny.
“I’ll look for Horn to fight at least two or three major fights in the United States next year.”
Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan said 2018 could be life-changing for his fighter.
“There is a massive year lined up, a lot of people want to know what sort of money they’re making, well Jeff Horn has got $1 million for this fight,” Lonergan said. “Going forward next year, realistically if he had three or four of the right fights, potentially he could have a $10 million year - maybe more.”
JEFF Fenech reckons there’s an easy way for Gary Corcoran to take advantage if the bullish Brit really thinks Jeff Horn is a serial headbutter. Hit him.
“Every time he puts his head in, hit him with an uppercut, finish with a hook and put his head back up,” Fenech said.
The former three-division world champion believes Corcoran’s camp is playing a “mind game” with Horn’s corner by airing allegations of foul play at Monday’s fiery pre-fight press conference in Brisbane.
Corcoran’s co-trainer Frank Greaves said Horn was a “dirty” boxer and played a compilation video of instances the 29-year-old former schoolALEX teacher has led with his head across his 18 career fights.
Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton denied the claims and said the London-based Irish Traveller was looking for excuses.
Fenech admitted he did the same thing as Horn but said it was all within the rules.
“That’s just Jeff’s way of getting in close. It’s not illegal. I did it all my career,” he said.
“I don’t see anything wrong with it. If they’ve watched it on video enough, there’s a way to throw some punches to your advantage.
“Every time he leans down, throw an uppercut and a hook after it and pivot out of there.
“That’s what I’d be telling my fighter if that was the case instead of worrying about headbutting him.”
Both sides intend to meet with New York referee Benjy Esteves Jr before the bout to address the claims.
Greaves wants a level playing field – if Horn is allowed to headbutt, so too is Corcoran.
“I’m sure there won’t be a problem with that,” Fenech said.
“The difference is Jeff’s not trying to headbutt, he’s just leading with his head. If he does that and Gary headbutts it’s a different thing.”
Horn said the allegations annoyed him.
“They’re making a big deal about it,” he said.
“They obviously want the referee to be watching it.
“I’m never going to deliberately come in there and smack my head against someone. It’s stupid, why would I?”