Eyes on title belt

JEFF Horn has thrown his support behind another heavyhitting Queensland underdog fighting a dangerous southpaw world champion.

While Horn faces Manny Pacquiao before Australia’s biggest ever fight crowd at Suncorp Stadium on July 2, slugger Mark Flanagan will venture into hostile territory when he confronts another left- handed destroyer, Denis Lebedev, for the WBA cruiserweight ( 91kg) title in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on July 10.

Like Pacquiao, Lebedev is a long- time world champ with devastating power.

While both Queenslanders are heavy underdogs, Horn says Flanagan has the punch to beat anyone in the world.

“Mark’s a very good boxer with a KO in either hand,’’ Horn said. “He has to go in against Lebedev believing he can do it and let those big shots go. It would be fantastic for Queensland to have two world boxing champions in a couple of weeks.’’

Flanagan has made a remarkable journey since his days growing up in a Townsville housing commission estate.

“In those days we didn’t even have money for the school bus and I’d walk 8km to school and 8km home every day,’’ he said yesterday.

“I came up tough. I didn’t even have the four bucks to train at the local police boys club but the coach there, Dennis Clancy, took me under his wing and I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me a start.

“I started boxing against the kids from Palm Island and I graduated to fighting a series of main events on Fox Sports.

“Then I moved to Brisbane about 18 months ago to get regular sparring but for this fight I’ve been working in Melbourne with a world- class southpaw named Blake Caparello.

“He’s just the guy I needed to prepare for the different angles Lebedev will give me.’’

Flanagan says he’s going for the KO from the opening bell.

“I turned pro eight years ago when I was 19. I didn’t know where it would lead me but here I am fighting the world champion in Russia and I plan to bring home the belt to Queensland.’’