Global Times - Weekend

Pacquiao looks beyond Horn

Eyes rematch against Mayweather

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ilipino legend Manny Pacquiao faces unheralded Australian challenger Jeff Horn in Sunday’s world welterweig­ht title fight in Brisbane in pursuit of a dream rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

The Pacquiao camp says it is anticipati­ng a “short and sweet” win over the unbeaten Horn, a former school teacher and 2012 Australian Olympian, before an expected 50,000 crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

The lightweigh­t world champion, 38, one of the greatest fighters of his generation, is an overwhelmi­ng favorite to improve on his fabulous career record of 59 wins, six losses and two draws at the expense of Horn (16-0-1).

It is revealing that the Pacquiao camp has already spoken of setting up another showdown with the unbeaten “Money” Mayweather, who outpointed “Pac-Man” in the “Fight of the Century” two years ago.

“We’re chasing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather and we know he has to score a spectacula­r knockout win over Jeff Horn if that’s going to happen,” Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said.

“I’m looking for a big win in Brisbane so we can go on to bigger and better things. I’ve been looking for a big knockout from him for a long time now and I think you’re going to see it in this fight.”

While Pacquiao has been respectful toward his relatively novice Aussie opponent, members of his entourage have talked dismissive­ly of Horn’s chances of causing one of boxing’s greatest upsets.

“Manny is one of the greats and Jeff Horn is in a different league,” Pacquiao’s Australian strength and conditioni­ng coach Justin Fortune said.

“If Manny puts his mind to it he destroys anybody in the world. He’s busted up some of the greats. Jeff Horn is the guy to knock out and we’re in the hurt business.”

Pacquiao has beaten some of the best – Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Jesse Vargas – while 29-year-old Horn is stepping up in class substantia­lly in the World Boxing Organizati­on welterweig­ht title fight.

Pacquiao, who is also a senator in the Philippine­s, regained the welterweig­ht world title belt he lost to Mayweather when he knocked Vargas down in the second round and cruised to a unanimous decision in November.

He will be making his first defense against Horn after a big-money fight with British boxer Amir Khan in the United Arab Emirates fell through earlier this year.

“In all my years of boxing, I have never been as motivated and fired up as this fight,” Pacquiao said. “My team is very happy with my preparatio­n. I am looking forward to this and I will be going home as world champion.”

Horn stands to make huge money – reported at seven figures – if he can defy the odds and inflict only Pacquiao’s seventh defeat inside the ring.

“Even though Pacquiao is the smaller man he’s the biggest mountain I’ve had to climb,” Horn said.

Pacquiao hasn’t scored a knockout in eight years and Horn says he suspects Pacquiao fights more cautiously since his knockout against Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

“Ever since that knockout loss against Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny doesn’t pull the trigger like he used to when he was on his big run of wins,” Horn said.

“I don’t know if he has lost his knockout punch and I hope I don’t find out on Sunday.”

 ?? Photo: IC ?? Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (left) spars with his trainer Freddie Roach during a training session in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Photo: IC Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao (left) spars with his trainer Freddie Roach during a training session in Brisbane on Tuesday.

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