by Shaun Brown

An Australian newspaper has claimed that Britain’s Gary Corcoran is more likely to get a shot at WBO Welterweight champion Jeff Horn rather than compatriot Bradley Skeete.

Last week speculation was rife that Skeete, ranked number three by the World Boxing Organisation, was close to securing a deal to challenge for Horn’s title in November. However, The Daily Telegraph’s Jamie Pandaram reported on their website yesterday (September 10) that Corcoran has jumped his Frank Warren stablemate in the queue.

Corcoran is ranked 11 by the WBO at 147lbs after dropping down in weight from 154lbs to defeat Larry Ekundayo for the sanctioning body’s Inter-Continental strap in July.

On Friday, September 8 Skeete took to Twitter to tell Jeff Horn and his promoter Bob Arum “I’m ready and waiting to sign the contract! Hope you’re not getting cold feet!”

Skeete has been on the up since losing to Frankie Gavin for his British Welterweight title and the vacant Commonwealth three years ago. A tight unanimous decision has saw Skeete go on a nine-fight winning streak, including a highly impressive performance against Sam Eggington last year to win British and honours at the second attempt. Skeete has now landed the Lonsdale belt outright after three successful defences against John Thain, Shayne Singleton and Dale Evans.

Stylistically a fight for Horn against the come forward Corcoran would play more into the champion’s hands than it would against the boxer-puncher attributes of Skeete who has been finding snap in his shots since that defeat to Gavin.

The Daily Telegraph added that Corcoran is leading a four man list to land a world title shot at Brisbane’s Entertainment Centre on November 25. Corcoran, Skeete, American Ray Robinson and Argentina’s Adrian Luciano Veron make up the quartet.

The date of November 25 is significant for the age-old Australia-England sporting rivalry with the historic Ashes cricket series starting in Brisbane two days earlier. A selling point, if ever there was one, for sports fans in both countries wishing to take in both events that week.

Horn won the WBO title when dethroning the legendary Manny Pacquiao on points back in July.