Ni Dennis Principe
GAGANDA lamang ang tsansa ni Jeff Horn kung magiging bugbugan ang laban nito kay defending champion Manny Pacquiao.
Ayon kay Australia boxing icon Jeff Fenech, isa lamang ang tsansa ni Horn na manalo sa laban at ito ay kung hindi niya mabibigyan si Pacquiao ng sapat na espasyo para makagalaw sa loob ng ring.
Tatangkain ni Horn na maagaw ang WBO welterweight crown na itataya naman ni Pacquiao sa kanilang 12-round title fight ngayong Linggo (Hulyo 2 sa Manila) sa Brisbane, Australia.
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“What Jeff Horn must do is to put a lot of pressure on Manny, hold him and tie him up. Make it a dirty fight. Make it a fight where Manny has never been before and that will help Jeff Horn win the fight,” pahayag ni Fenech sa telephone interview ng Balita.
Dagdag pa ng 53 anyos na si Fenech, depende na sa mga trainers ni Horn kung paano nila mapipilit si Pacquiao na pumasok at gawing madugo ang kanilang laban.
“If they tell him stay off Manny and he’s going to win the fight, they’re dreaming. He’s got to make it a very rough, hard fight. Give Manny no room. He’s got to take Manny out of his comfort zone,” ani Fenech.
Minsan nang dumayo si Fenech sa bansa noong 2000 nang samahan nito ang noo’y undefeated na si Australian-Lebanese fighter Nedal Hussein sa paglaban kay Pacquiao.
Bagsak noon si Pacquiao sa fourth round nang tamaan ng matulis na jab ni Hussein. Nakabangon man si Pacquiao at nagawang maka-iskor ng 11th round TKO, iginiit naman ng kampo ni Hussein na naging mabagal ang pagbilang nito sa knockdown kay Pacquiao.
Sa kabila nito, hindi na masasabing masama pa ang loob ni Fenech na naniniwalang hindi sana naka-rekober noon si Pacquiao nung naging tama ang bilang ni Filipino referee Carlos Padilla.
“I’m a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao. I love what he does and even outside the ring. There’s no hard feelings. Manny that night showed that much courage, getting off the floor from that big punch,” ani Fenech “He won the fight at the end of the day. That young Manny Pacquiao is now a totally different fighter.”
Bayani ng Australian boxing si Fenech na naging kauna-unahang three-division world champion ng kanilang bansa.
