Jeff Horn’s trainer, Glenn Rushton, believes Manny Pacquiao’s camp has underestimated the Australian boxer by talking already about future rematches with Floyd Mayweather.
“I believe this fight will end in a stoppage. As much as I respect (Roach) for his wealth of experience — he’s trained more world champions than most boxers have had professional fights — I think he’s wrong,” Rushton said.
“Where he’s talking about an early stoppage I don’t see that at all. I see this going deep. I think it’ll be a late stoppage after a torrid war. I do think Freddie and Manny are underestimating Jeff … (and) when they get out there, it’s going to be so different.”
Horn’s promotor Dean Lonergan also picked up on the theme, highlighting Pacquiao’s continual attention to his cell phone during Wednesday’s official news conference and describing the 11-time world champion Filipino fighter as a “world champion texter.”
For his part, the 29-year-old Horn didn’t mind it if Roach and Co. are expecting a knockout.
Pacquiao said he never predicted how he’d win a fight, and said he only spoke about a potential rematch with Mayweather because he was answering questions about it from the media.
Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 knockouts) explained that he was preparing notes on his phone regarding who to thank during the news conference and didn’t mean any offense.
He rejected any suggestion he was taking Horn lightly, saying he’d worked so hard in training at times that Roach had ordered him to stop, and he was ready to put his WBO belt and his reputation on the line.
“I’m ready for that,” Pacquiao said before laughing loudly to Fox Sports.
“I have been fighting and training with brawler fighters, tough fighters. I consider Horn a tough opponent. I never underestimate an opponent. He’s undefeated and young. He has a big right hand. He has good amateur experience.”
“I love to brawl. It’s going to be a war. I’m expecting him to come inside close to me, fighting toe-to-toe and I’m ready for that. I love to fight aggressive fighters. I plan to win and a knockout is a bonus.”