By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn has triggered a rematch clause to fight middleweight Michael Zerafa in a rematch after the Melbourne-based Zefara scored a stoppage victory over him in Bendigo on August 31.
“I need to fight Zerafa again. I really needed to get this back and have the slate clean,” Horn told AAP. “It does make it easier to get into the gym when they are calling me all these names. His team have had a lot to say and have been pretty harsh with their words but it was in the contract. And he is always going to get big opportunities if he beats me in the rematch – but he has got to beat the real me the second time.
“I was a little bit guilty of cutting corners the last time, nothing massive but little things that made me mentally underestimate Zerafa and he proved his point on the night so good on him. It was embarrassing. I definitely didn’t fight the way I normally do. But I have a hunger … to get that win back and a world title after that would be great.”
Horn I am sure wants a lot of things in life just like we all do. However, in boxing, Horn is a mediocre fighter at best with limited skills. Horn should desire in making plans for a retirement to save his cranium from extensive damage from skilled savvy fighters. The judges must like Horn as he is gifted in some fights with decisions only a near-sighted person would contest since they did not see what really happened. Horn is not doing anything to enhance the sport of boxing unless you admire hopeful wannabes getting KO’d that talk a lot. Sorry, truth hurts….
I really wonder sometimes where some of the ‘thumbs down’ in here come from. Scooby’s comment is right on the mark and difficult to contest with logic and reason.
I wish some people would give rational arguments instead of just voting down some good comments in here. I can’t see anything wrong with Scooby’s comment – it really is a good assessment of reality/the truth re. Horn.
im not sure what his goals are. He was top 10 at 147 and gifted the WBO belt, so maybe could still get a money fight there? At 154 the champs are zero reward and high risk so thats out..maybe at 160 he thinks he can get waxed but a big payday with Canelo or GGG if he wins a few at 160.
If Horn lost to Pacman, we probably would have never heard about him again. A bad decision win in boxing keeps your name in fightnews for years not matter how average you are.
Horn got 4 good fights from getting the win over Pacquiao. Had he lost by 1 point on all the cards, or had he lost by 3 points on all the cards, he probably still would have been top 5 in most of the ratings at 147, maybe he would have gotten a fight with Errol Spence if he took the loss to Pacquiao. To me, Horn should avoid this rematch. Most guys that get stopped in the first fight, if the rematch is anytime soon afterwards, they will lose again, but just faster. Horn should take Fenech’s advice, get a new gym (stop going to his head trainer’s house), get a new look. Who can say what is the best weigh in weight for Horn right now. Horn might be up for some 10 round fights, I don’t see him ready to do 12 hard rounds vs Zerafa anytime soon. Horn is a stubborn one though, or likes to say he is just laid back, it is just up to him to train more, but his team is fine; he isn’t going to veer from bad choices and decisions, he just sticks with things that aren’t working for him anymore (the Hornet is a bore nickname now, his trunks colors (orange and brown), his shoes) He needs a change (if he wants to win the big fights down under). The only top 30 rating Horn holds now might be the WBC rating at 147 or 154. Not sure why he didn’t drop more than to #7 in the IBO at 160.
He is digging a grave wanting the rematch!, Time to move on and fight at 154. Zerafa will just KO him again.
Nothing too much will change here,Zerafa will hit just as hard as he did before,Horn will stand in front of him and be outboxed and out banged…….. forget it Jeff,you’re gone,they all know what to expect from you……… an early night yet again !!!
I’m ok with a rematch if you fight on an undercard , possibly second or third undercard but it’s hard to market this as a candidate for fight of the year