NAGYABANG si WBO No. 2 contender Jeff Horn na kaya niyang patulugin si eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao sa napipintong paghaharap sa Abril 23 sa 55,000-seating capacity Suncorp Stadium sa Brisbane, Australia.
Iginiit ni Horn na mas mabigat ang kanyang mga suntok kay Pacquiao na ilang beses na ring nakatikim ng TKO sa ibabaw ng ring.
“I know I have the power to hurt Manny,” sabi ni Horn sa Fox Sports. “He’s been knocked down and he’s been knocked out and I’m a heavy puncher so I believe I have a real chance to bring the world title to Australia.”
Pinakahuling pagkatalo ni Pacquiao ang 6th round knockout kay Mexican Juan Marquez noong 2012 pero nakabawi siya at umiskor ng impresibong panalo sa puntos sa mga batang sina Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley, Chris Algieri at Jessie Vargas bagama’t natalo sa puntos kay Floyd Mayweather noong 2015.
Aminado naman si Pacquiao na wala pa siyang nakikitang laban ni Horn pero binalewala niya ang banta nitong patutulugin siya.
“I cannot say if he’s ready because I didn’t see his style or his face yet, so I don’t know,” pahayag ni Pacquiao.
“He needs to prove it in the ring. Because in my previous fights many of them are saying they will stop me, they will knock me out and it’s not happening. We’re not finalizing yet, the fight or a future fight. I didn’t talk to Bob Arum about that yet. I’m hoping that the fight will be in Australia, I’d love to do that. I’ve been to Australia once or twice but for gambling. I’m still here. It depends how you discipline yourself and how you work hard in training. I love exercise, I love working out.”
May ulat na tatanggap si Pacquiao ng $25 milyon para magdepensa kay Horn bago ang world tour sa England at Russia na tatampukan ng laban kay WBC at WBO light welterweight champion Terrence Crawford sa Las Vegas, Nevada para sa kanyang huling laban bago tuluyang magretiro.
May kartada si Manny Pacquiao na 59-6-2 na may 38 panalo sa knockout kumpara kay Horn na may perpektong rekord na 16-0-1 na may 11 pagwawagi sa knockouts kabilang kina dating IBO at WBF welterweight champion Ali Funeka ng South Africa nitong Disyembre at ex-IBF 147 punds titlist Randall Bailey ng United States noong nakaraang Abril. (Gilbert Espeña)
