By Edward Chaykovsky

Undefeated welterweight contender Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) is planning to make a statement if the potential fight with WBO world champion Manny Pacquiao is finalized for April 23 in Brisbane [April 22 on U.S. time].

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, will be meeting with Duco Events on Tuesday in Los Angeles - with both sides hoping to finalize the financial terms for a defense against Horn.

Horn was a darkhorse to land the Pacquiao fight, but last month Arum was ringside in Auckland watched the young contender stop former champion Ali Funeka. Afterwards, Arum made a deal with Duco to co-promote the fighter.

Horn will be waiting by his phone on Tuesday, hoping that Arum and Duco were able to reach a deal on the fight.

"We won’t know for sure until Tuesday or Wednesday Australian time. My promoter is going over there to try to seal the deal with them at the moment," Horn told On The Ropes Boxing Radio. "I reckon that bringing someone like Manny Pacquiao to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane would definitely get a full house and it would be a great event."

Horn is a big fan of Pacquiao. Back when he was a young amateur, Horn would watch Pacquiao fights on television.

The unbeaten Aussie feels a twelve round fight could make things a little closer than he would like - which is why he would rather put Pacquiao down and out, and he'll be looking to counter him with heavy punches all night.

"Manny Pacquiao’s weakness is that he does jump around a bit too much, even though that’s a strength as well, he’s hard to hit. When he does get hit and he goes the wrong way, he runs into it like he did with Marquez. I’m hoping to be able to time him well and make him run into one of my punches which would double the power and hopefully put a stop to Pacquiao," Horn said.

"I’ve fought all over the world and I’ve had a lot of fights against some top fighters. I think I’ve got the skills. I see myself beating Pacquiao and I think I definitely got the power. If I land on Pacquiao especially when he’s coming forward into me, I could hurt him. Always your best chance of winning against a super champion like Pacquiao is to stop them, but it would definitely be a close fight on points. Stopping him would be the way to go at it."