Corcoran’s bite threat is all bark, says Horn
JEFF Horn is primed to dislodge all of Gary Corcoran’s teeth after the Englishman’s threat to bite him in next Wednesday’s world title fight at the Brisbane Convention Centre.
Watched by his heavily pregnant wife Jo and his father Jeff Sr, Horn powered through eight fast rounds in his final strength and conditioning session with fitness guru Dundee Kim in Brisbane yesterday and declared he was ready to rattle the chops of the tough- talking English gypsy.
“I’ve been training to knock him out so I’ll just make it quicker if he tries to bite me,’’ Horn said. “He reckons I’m a rough fighter but this is boxing not a tickling contest. I fight a rough up- close kind of style and I hope Gary’s ready for it. It sounds to me a bit like he’s starting to panic if he’s talking about biting.’’
Complaining that Horn headbutted Manny Pacquiao in their July 2 fight at Suncorp Stadium, Corcoran declared on Thursday that if Horn headbutted him: “I won’t headbutt Jeff back – I’ll bite him.’’
Yesterday, Horn’s furious promoter Dean Lonergan said he would meet with New York referee Benjy Esteves Jr and the three international judges to inform them of Corcoran’s threat.
“This is a cowardly type of behaviour,’’ Lonergan said.
“Biting opponents might be acceptable in the Traveller community in the UK but it will not be acceptable in the WBO world welterweight contest.
“A major part of Jeff Horn’s appeal to the global boxing audience is his toughness and his extreme good looks; the last thing Horn or boxing needs is an overzealous and jealous UK Traveller biting half his ear off, or God forbid, biting off his nose.
“This simply won’t be tolerated and I have a duty to protect my fighter; I am now questioning the wisdom of bringing to Australia a man with such barbaric intentions.
“I now see why Corcoran was keen to have the fight in a carpark if these are the tactics he wants to use.’’
Horn said he hoped the fight would be conducted fair and square and that he and Corcoran could shake hands after the bout.
“Gary is a tough guy and I respect him as an opponent,’’ Horn said.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a thrilling fight. He’s an aggressive guy who puts opponents under a lot of pressure and that suits me because I like guys to come at me all guns blazing rather than have to chase them.
“I hope it’s a hard fight and a clean fight but like I say if he wants to try dirty stuff against me he’ll pay for it.’’