Horn keeps WBO belt with TKO of Corcoran

AUS T R A L I A N J e f f Hor n reta i ned h is World Box i ng Orga n i sat ion welter weig ht t i t l e w i t h a n 11t h-r ou nd tech nica l k nockout v ictor y over English challenger Gar y Corc or a n i n Br i sba ne on Wednesday.

Horn, in his first title defence since he upset Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane in Jul y, finished strongly to batter Corcoran and force the decision.

Horn is now in line to face the 30-year-old undefeated American Terence Crawford (32 wins in 32 fights) in Las Vegas in April.

Asked about Crawford, Horn said: “It’s a big possibility. If that is what everyone wants to see, I guess that is what is going to happen.”

The win took Horn’s career record to 18 wins, 12 by KO, with one draw.

“I felt my timing was a bit off but I got him in the end. He definitely pushed me in there,” Horn said.

“We both had cuts over our eyes and I was just trying to wear him down.”

Corcoran’s corner threw in the towel in the 11th round after the Englishman had endured a savage beating from Horn, leaving his face a bloodied mess.

British boxer Amir Khan is another who has designs on Horn’s world title belt and was ringside on Wednesday with a potential fight between the two next year.

Hor n, who re ache d t he qua r ter f i na l s of t he l ig ht- welter weight div ision at t he 2012 Oly mpic Ga mes, ha s ne v er lost a pr of e s s iona l bout.

Corcoran slugged it out with Hor n up u nt i l t he midd le stages of t he schedu led 12 rounds, but t he Austra lia n’s superior stamina and punching power won him the closi ng rou nds lead i ng to t he f ight’s stoppage.