Little bro tipped to strike back
THE last time Ben Horn came e up against a Townsville fighter r he left the ring with his head d bowed.
But older brother Jeff sees a new destiny for him, one that ends differently to his bout with Lachlan O’shea.
Ben will take on Patrick Clark in the Palm Island boxer’s professional debut, armed with years of fighting out of the ring with his world championship-winning sibling.
Back then there was not much technique to their bouts, with Jeff resorting to “hammer, one shotters, hitting him in the leg and then running away”.
But as much as they drove each other crazy, they forged a close bond, and now those days fighting over the little things have taken them to the big stage of Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
“As brothers growing up we had plenty of fights, that’s for sure,” Jeff said.
“We used to fight over toys, we used to fight about anything. We probably didn’t have the best childhood growing up as brothers because we kind of got under each other’s skin.
“Ben’s been at the gym when I’ve been at the gym the majority of the time. He’s been pushing through his own paces. My training just goes a bit longer than Ben’s does – it kind of overlaps so I’m unable to see too much of it.
“But I know he’s been putting in the effort for this one.
“Lachlan did give it to Ben that time, but I guess Ben has learned a lot from that lesson and hopefully he’s going to be improved.”
Horn enters his bout with Tim Tszyu as the outsider, a fact that has bemused him given his status as a former world champion.
It has led him to an inspired and far different pre-fight process, leaving his wife and children at home and packing on 4kg of muscle.
The 32-year-old appreciates there is more on the line in this fight than a win.
With sport having endured an extended hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the public’s craving for action will have the eyes of the globe upon Horn and Tszyu. Horn has coped with the expectation – his question is, can Tszyu?
“It’s good not having to worry about the kids waking up, and Jo having to get up beside me in the middle of the night,” Horn said.
“It adds a complication to what’s at hand, now I can just focus on boxing and keep everything simple. Yes, I miss them – 100 per cent, but I’ll be able to give them big hugs and kisses when I get home.
“When you know the whole world is watching there’s a lot of pressure on our shoulders to perform at a high level.
“You’re either going to sink or swim – I’ve proven I can swim in these waters. Tim hasn’t proven that yet and I guess we’re going to see if he sinks or swims.”