BRISBANE, Australia — Jeff Horn followed up his contentious WBO welterweight title win over Manny Pacquiao with a successful first defense on Wednesday against Gary Corcoran.
The Australian former school teacher won by technical knockout in the 11th round when the referee stopped the fight with Corcoran bleeding from a deep cut above his left eye.
It was Horn’s first fight since his unanimous decision upset over eight-division champion Pacquiao in front of more than 51,000 fans in an outdoor afternoon fight at nearby Suncorp Stadium in July in the “Battle of Brisbane.”
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Horn, now unbeaten in 19 bouts, is hoping the win at the Brisbane Convention Centre sets him up for a fight against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas next year.
The early rounds were close with Corcoran continually walking forward, but Horn landed enough punches to lead before he started to find his range in the seventh.
“He definitely pushed me,” Horn said. “I felt my timing was a bit off, but I got him in the end.”
The England-based Corcoran (17-2) said he had too many cuts.
“Fair play to Jeff. He is a good fighter,” Corcoran said. “I’ll be back. Learn from it. I’ll come again.”