After winning an upset twelve round unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao to capture the WBO welterweight title last weekend in Brisbane, newly crowned world champion Jeff Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) has again called for a bout with undefeated five division champion Floyd Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs).
In an appearance on Channel Nine’s NRL Footy Show, Horn said that while a bout with Mayweather was unlikely at this stage, he was within his rights to dream of taking on the controversial – yet supremely skilled – pound for pound king.
''It is definitely a fight that I want,’’ Horn said. ''Whether it’ a fight that I will get is another question. He’s definitely the highest paid athlete in our sport … to get a fight with him would be massive. Yeah, why not when I’ve already fought someone like Manny Pacquiao."
Mayweather, who also holds a decision win over Pacquiao – is snapping his retirement from September 2015 to fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a boxing match on August 26th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Showtime Pay-Per-View will carry the fight.
Nothing is really set in stone on whether or not Mayweather, now 40 years old, will continue to fight after this contest.
The continued complaining over the result from the Pacquaio camp, a host of US journalists and Pacquiao’s home nation of the Philippines has now extended to the only man to won world titles in a record eight different weight divisions.
Horn said the vocal opposition to the result, from Pacquiao himself, remained somewhat of a surprise.
''It shocks me a little bit, he was very happy with the decision on the day,’’ Horn said. ''He thought he had lost the fight and I had won the fight. But now he has gone home and probably had a fair few people in his ear and he might be changing his mind. 'It’s all politics."