Boxers Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, second left, and Jeff Horn of Australia, second right, pose for a photo in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 28, 2017. Pacquiao, is putting his WBO belt on the line Sunday, July 2, against the 29-year-old Horn. (AP Photo/John Pye)
The digital era has given sports a vast repository of information and videos. Although broadcast rights and proper citation and acknowledgement of the use of material are still enforced, there is enough latitude for research for sports chroniclers and fans alike.
YouTube allows us to see what Jeff “The Hornet” Horn can bring to his July 2 showdown with Manny Pacquiao.
He has the youthful zest to keep attacking opponents as clearly seen in his last TKO wins over Ali Funeka and Rico Mueller.
Horn has a reliable and wicked right hand that he will use at any given opportunity to knock out opponents. It is a right hand that has most likely been already spotted by Pacman’s team and a defense ready for it has been designed.
Pacquiao may be 38 years old and no longer the reckless punching machine that endeared him to fight fans the world over. But because he has remained relatively in shape and has diligently trained for the most part of his career, Pacquiao still has a bounce in his step that will allow him to dodge Horn’s right hand and set him self up for great punching angles.
Horn nonetheless presents himself as a dangerous opponent and in sports many individual champions and teams have paid dearly against hungry foes. Insiders know that Horn is not in Pacquiao’s league but he will be ambitious enough to go for a milestone and career-defining win. Horn would definitely want to win in front of a hometown crowd.
Before this battle in Brisbane, most fight fans were puzzled as to who Horn was. With a quick look at the Internet, they now have an idea of what Horn can do. It’s best for Pacquiao to end the fight early and go for the knockout when it presents itself.
Pacquiao’s last knockout triumph happened in 2009 with that rousing win against Miguel Cotto. The time seems ripe for a new one to swiftly deny The Hornet any chance to use his sting.