Kumpiyansa si WBO No. 2 at IBF No. 2 welterweight contender Jeff Horn na may kakayahan siya para patulugin si eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao kapag nagkasundo sina Duco Events Director Dean Lonergan at Top Rank big boss Bob Arum na matuloy ang kanilang laban na itinakda sa Abril 23 sa Suncorp Stadium, sa Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Mag-uusap sina Lonergan at Arum sa Los Angeles, California sa United States sa susunod na linggo para isapinal ang kampeonato na ang tanging problema na lamang ay ang $20 millionna garantisadong premyo ni Pacquiao.
Para kay Horn na may perpektong rekord na 16 panalo, 11 sa pamamagitan ng knockouts, sasamantalahin niya ang pagkakataong lumikha ng malaking upset kung matutuloy ang sagupaan nila ni Pacquiao.
“Is it the right time? You could say that at any point,” sabi ni Horn sa Brisbane Courier-Mail. “I’ve got the youth on my side and Pacquiao’s 38 now. He’s got the experience but I have got the youth on my side and that will get me the win.”
Idinagdag ni Horn na kahit maraming karanasan si Pacquiao na may kartadang 59-6-2, tampok ang 38 knockouts, hinog na ito para talunin ng katulad niyang sumisibol pa lamang sa boxing.
“I think over his last couple of fights, I’ve seen him go down a little bit. He’s still got very, very good movement, very good skill. But I think he has dropped just slightly, which is a lot at that level,” diin ni Horn na umaming tagahanga ni Pacquiao.
“It’d be a dream come true. Especially against Pacquiao, he’s one of the reasons I got into the sport. I was watching him before I even got into boxing. There’s no point waiting, I reckon. I’ve got the tools to win against Pacquiao and I’ve believed that for a while.” (Gilbert Espeña)