Bugner offer to help title ambitions

FORMER heavyweight boxing champion Joe Bugner says he would love to sit in Jeff Horn’s corner to give him the “lift” he needs to beat Manny Pacquiao.

The 67-year-old Gold Coaster says he phoned Jeff Horn’s team about 2½ weeks ago to offer his support to be in the Brisbane schoolteacher’s corner for the fight. A call he claims was not returned.

But yesterday, a spokesman for Horn said his camp invited Bugner to a training session and he knocked them back.

The spokesman said Bugner was even offered free tickets to the event.

Bugner said he would love to speak to Horn and give him the belief he could be a world champion in much the same way Muhammad Ali did for him late in his career.

Bugner, one of few men on the planet to fight Ali twice, said he thought Horn had a great chance at beating Philippines great Pacquiao but he would need to start strong on Sunday.

He said Horn would give himself the best chance of making history if he stamped his authority in the first round.

“The beautiful thing about boxing is that one punch can turn the tide,” he said.

“When that bell goes in the first round, he’s got to let this bloke know that he’s not there to give him a freebie.

“Horn is going to need to hurt this bloke early.”