WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn (18-0-1, 12 KOs) has vowed to get some early respect from mandatory challenger Terence Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs).
The contest is scheduled to take place in June 9th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Horn captured the title in July 2017, when he won an upset twelve round unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao at the SunCorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
Crawford, who captured a world title at lightweight and unified the entire junior welterweight division, is taking part in his first bout at 147-pounds.
Unlike Pacquiao, Crawford starts to work his craft very early to gain the advantage from the start.
Horn is anticipating the likelihood of Crawford taking the lead from the opening bell - which is why the Australian star is planning to fight fire with fire to shake Crawford's confidence.
"He’s [Crawford] a different fighter because he likes that counter-punching style, where Manny likes to fight in bursts. He wants to be on top of you straight away," Horn said to The Age.
"I have to treat it the same way and show him [Crawford] little respect in there. I’m the world champion, he’s coming to fight me and I have to show that I am the champion."
When Horn defeated Pacquiao, there were over 50,000 fans in the venue. There won't be that many at the MGM Grand, but Horn is very excited to headline a major event in Las Vegas.
"It’s pretty inspiring [to fight in Vegas]. I went there for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and for a holiday as well as the ESPYs. I’ve been there a few times. It’s an amazing place. But to fight there will be different," Horn said.
"Duco have done a really good thing to make these big shows for me. Suncorp, you can’t beat that. The bright lights are there but it will be the same as all the other fights."