Boxer Jeff Horn trains in a gym in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, June 26, 2017. Horn is preparing for his WBO welterweight world boxing title bout against Filipino Manny Pacquiao on Sunday, July 2. (Photo by JOHN PYE / AP)
BRISBANE, Australia—There will be no rush for Jeff Horn in the first round. Instead, he’ll measure Manny Pacquiao’s distance before testing his speed and power.
Afterwards, Horn will try to break down Pacquiao’s body before going for the kill on the later rounds.
To proceed with caution is what trainer Glenn Rushton wants Horn to do in the headliner of “Battle of Brisbane.”
Rushton, who has charted an extensive 10-point plan to improve their chances of dethroning Pacquiao, said Horn should stick to it once the bell rings and when it ends.
“After the first two to three rounds, I want Jeff to say it’s ‘another easy day at the office.'”
In addition, Rushton wants Horn to commit no mistake throughout the execution of the strategy, which likely includes Horn avoiding Pacquiao’s vaunted straight left.
“We must be mistake-free tomorrow (Sunday),” said Rushton.
Having thoroughly analyzed Pacquiao’s previous fights, Rushton is taking a cue from what Pacquiao did to Ricky Hatton in 2009, when he flattened the Briton in just two rounds.
Rushton said Hatton made a mistake and paid the price.
Claiming that Horn is competent and technically proficient to adapt to whatever Pacquiao will bring to the ring, Rushton promised a “Bloody Sunday.”
Though they’ve stated that Pacquiao’s chin will be a prime target, owing to what Juan Manuel Marquez did to him in 2013, Rushton insists Hop has a large target area.
“We’re prepared to hit him in the head, body, and wherever,” said Rushton.
Not only that, the mixed martial arts expert and self-made millionaire swears Horn has everything in his
arsenal.
“He can hit from long range, middle range and short range,” said Rushton.
Horn’s unpredictability will also be a key factor in his bid to stun Pacquiao, and probably send him into retirement, according to Rushton.
“He throws punches from everywhere. He can turn southpaw like Manny, he can hit with right hand leads and can move and fight from angles that Manny hasn’t encountered before.”
In other words, Rushton believes Horn’s so good, Pacquiao will look bad on Sunday.