Meeting the 29-year-old challenger from Brisbane for the first time, Pacquiao encouraged Horn to go to to-toe-with him as a way of entertaining an estimated 50,000 fans at the Suncorp Stadium and on worldwide television across the globe.
Pacquiao said, he particularly likes Horn’s fighting style because he engages and does not run away.
“I like this fight with Jeff Horn because he stands and fights, he does not run away in the ring. It will be a very exciting fight for the fans,” said Pacquiao who is now on a week-long promotional tour that will bring him and his entourage to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
“I hope he is training hard,” Pacquiao said. “I want him to be ready because I want to entertain the fans with a good fight,” he added.
Pacquiao is being accompanied by longtime promoter Bob Arum, who thinks Horn has a good chance to pull off the upset on July 2.
“Manny (Pacquiao) is going to be a fool if he’ll take Jeff Horn lightly,” Arum told The Manila Times in an overseas call on Tuesday. “Horn has a chance of beating Manny. Horn is a strong big kid and he is also a skilled fighter although not the same as Manny,” Arum added.
Pacquiao is set to train in Manila for about six weeks before he moves back to Brisbane for another two weeks for the final phase of his training.
Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs), who is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jessie Vargas last Nov. 5 is the early favorite to win the fight on account of his experience and skill in the sport.
Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), is fresh off a TKO win over former IBO Welterweight champion Ali Funeka last December in Auckland to retain his WBO Inter-Continental title. Horn enjoys three inches advantage in height at 5’9″ against Pacquiao’s 5’6.”