HORN STARTS TO PICK UP THE PACE
sparred six rounds with Mackay’s undefeated rising star Liam Paro yesterday, his first sparring session for the big fight.
Paro, 21, coached by lawyer Alfie Di Carlo, did his best to mimic Pacquiao’s allaction style and Horn said he was impressed with the work the youngster gave him as they traded punches at the Stretton gym of Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton.
“It was a good first spar for Jeff,’’ Rushton said.
“Liam’s a very slick southpaw, quick and with a good work rate and he gave Jeff just the hitout we needed to open our sparring campaign.’’
Di Carlo had his fighter constantly changing levels as Paro attacked Horn.
Rushton remains hopeful that Ukraine’s world juniorlightweight champ Vasyl Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, will be in Brisbane in three weeks to also spar with Horn as training intensifies ahead of the biggest bout in Australian history.
“We’re hoping to have Jeff spar 60 rounds with Lomachenko over two weeks with the sparring finishing a couple of weeks before the fight,’’ Rushton said.
“Lomachenko is thinking about bringing his wife and children with him to Brisbane for a holiday so things are looking very positive that he will be coming.’’