By Edward Chaykovsky
2012 Australian Olympian Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) is preparing to turn off some lights when he faces WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on July 1 [July 2 in Australia] in Brisbane.
The Suncorp Stadium is expected to pack in a huge crowd of 55,000 fans, mostly for Horn, as the unbeaten challenger takes big step up in class.
Horn believes he is more than ready to take on the only boxer in history to capture world titles in a record eight weight divisions.
Horn has been studying several of Pacquiao fights in the last few years. Specifically he's been looking at Pacquiao's fourth showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez, where Marquez threw a huge counter in the sixth round to knock Pacquiao out cold. Pacquiao was also knocked down in the third round of that fight.
Horn is hoping to catch Pacquiao with counters every time the Filipino star jumps in. Horn has also been looking at Pacquiao's last fight, a November twelve round unanimous decision win over Jessie Vargas.
Horn felt Vargas was too stationary of a target and had trouble dealing with Pacquiao's angles. He plans to fight fire with fire, by showcasing his own movement and angles when he steps in the ring with Pacquiao.
“Every time he throws a punch it gives me an opportunity,’’ Horn said to Fox Sports Australia. “Every time he attacks there’s the chance for me to punch through the opening.
“Marquez stopped Pacquiao with a big shot and I’ve got a very good right hand. But I’m not just planning my strategy around landing one good right hand.
“I watched Pacquiao’s last fight with Jessie Vargas. I’ll move a lot more than Vargas did and give Pacquiao different angles the same way he did against Vargas. I’m hoping to catch him off balance every time he lunges in.”