By Ray Wheatley – World of Boxing
Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff “The Hornet” Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs), who will clash with IBF #6 light middleweight Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) on August 26, spoke to Peter Maniatis about representing Australia at the 2012 London Olympics, defeating two-time world title challenger Noufell Ben Rabah in his seventh fight, defeating legendary Manny Pacquiao in 2017, losing to pound-for-pound best Terrence Crawford in 2018 and much more.
LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS
”The London 2012 Olympics were exciting times. It was a big moment in my career. It was something I had been training for my whole boxing career. I had only been boxing four or five years so I was pretty lucky to make those Olympics in that short of time. There were some big names fighting. Anthony Joshua was one of them. Denys Berinchyk (Silver Medalist) of the Ukraine who beat me in the quarter-finals was another big name. I went alright – I won my first two fights (Gilbert Choombe of Zambia and Abderrazak Houya of Tunisia) and but Berinchyk I guess was too much for me in the end.
MARTIAL ARTS
“I first started in Martial Arts. I trained with Glenn Rushton in Scorpion Martial Arts. I never went for the Black Belt. I was never interested the whole belt side of it.
BEATING NOUFELL BEN RABAH
“I had won the Australian title ( in 2013 as a professional) and I knew I had to go on to bigger and better things so in my seventh professional fight I took on some tougher opposition when two-time world challenger Noufell Ben Rabah (37-3 )happened. That fight came out of nowhere. I fought him in Perth in a winner take all fight. I think it was AUD$6000 for us in the end. That was my biggest payday for awhile. I was pretty confident – you have to be. As a fighter you are confident in your ability. I had got rid of Sam Colomban ( KO 1) – who was meant to be a tough fight. I thought I should be able to beat Ben Rabah. (Horn WPTS Rabah)
BOXING ON JOSEPH PARKER UNDERCARDS
“It was great and that’s all I knew in that era boxing on (Fox televised) Joseph Parker undercards in New Zealand. I was used to fighting on undercards and I was chuffed on Joseph Parker undercards because I knew how popular he was and he is a great guy. I thought ‘this is awesome fighting just before him’ so I knew people would be watching. It was exciting times.
TOUGH OPPONENTS
“I started taking on some really tough opposition (Randall Bailey and Ali Funeka in 2016) in Brisbane (with Bob Arum in attendance). There were some tough guys but I was still beating them and stopping a couple of them. It really made my confidence grow. I really had trust in my ability and what I could do as a boxer. I think I was like everyone else when I got the call that I was going to fight Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane – I said what? Is this real? Is this some TV prank?
MANNY PACQUIAO
“Manny Pacquiao was a superstar – he was the whole way through during our preparations. Meeting him in the flesh and seeing him that he is just normal. Just looking at him there was nothing special about him as you do with anyone else. It’s like – I can beat this guy. If I move the way I move and be unpredictable and I know that’s how Pacquiao fights as well. I am bigger than this guy and I can use that against him – I can win this fight. I just had full trust in my ability at that stage.
“Manny seemed very blasé (when he was at press conferences) in Australia. I thought very highly of Pacquiao in boxing for a long time. He was one of my idols. Pacquiao was extraordinary to watch. His demeanor around the sport. He seemed like a really nice guy but he could fight like a little monster. I wanted to be like that. To fight him and try and beat him – that was GOLD.
“I was a bit frustrated (at press conferences) The way Manny was on his phone and out of it and not interested. It gave me the feeling he was that confident he didn’t really care. He really didn’t know who he was fighting. They have picked a guy from Australia for me – I will knock him over very quickly. That’s a good ten million in his pocket and see you later. And I thought to myself – I am going to make this extremely difficult for you. I wasn’t going down without a fight.
“I didn’t get any congratulations from Manny after the 2017 fight – I might have got a pat on the back. He was saying to me ‘break’ at the start of the fight – I automatically went back the first time. I thought he doesn’t like me doing that so maybe I should keep clinching because I don’t have to listen to him. I only have to listen to the referee.
“I would have been keen on a rematch. I would have to get the offer to consider it. There was never an offer for a rematch with Manny in the Philippines or anywhere.
“I was worried that after I beat Manny that (people would say) he has had it and that Manny was done – you got him at the right time but he has won the world title and beat some decent guys (Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman). I am very happy and proud of Manny and proud of myself because I did beat Pacquiao.
“I remember the paparazzi coming to my house. I said what are you doing. The photographer said I want you to do something natural like putting out your garbage bins. I actually did that for him and it wasn’t even bin day.
TERRENCE CRAWFORD
“Gary Corcoran was a very tough guy. He gave me a tough fight that’s for sure. I have high respect for him. Then it was off to Las Vegas (in 2018) to fight Terrence Crawford. That was a tough fight – very tough. I was stopped in the ninth round. That brutal ninth round that I keep having (also in Manny Pacquiao fight). I probably did it wrong by staying in one of the main casinos and I had a lot of people around. I think that sapped a lot of energy. I had a newborn child at that stage. She was in the same room as us even though we asked for multiple rooms. It was just one big room and we had her over in the corner. So there were a lot of things I could have done a little bit better leading into that fight. Just staying in a hotel room wasn’t the smartest move and I just felt like we were the underdogs. We were treated like we weren’t going to win that fight. I guess he had everything and they were trying to show we had nothing.
MICHAEL ZERAFA
“I took the Michael Zerafa fight (August 2019) because I knew that was probably the toughest fight I could take in Australia. I took a few shortcuts. The diet wasn’t 100% on point. There were tiny little things you would shave off here and there and those little things add up to a percentage and that’s a percentage you cannot let go against top opposition like Michael Zerafa because he definitely proved himself that night he was a force to be reckoned with. ( Zerafa TKO9 Horn) I knew I had fought better opposition and I knew I could beat him. I was very angry the way he (Zerafa) was talking about me and my trainer (Glenn Rushton) as well. Just kind of demeaning us. Saying we had done nothing and we were not very good. I said I want a rematch. I wanted to prove that I could do a lot better then what I did in that first fight. (Horn defeated majority points decision Zerafa in the December 2019 rematch)
JEFF HORN VS TIM TSZYU
WBO #5 Jeff Horn (20-2-1, 13 KOs) will be in action against IBF #6, WBO #9, WBC #12 Tim Tszyu (15-0, 11 KOs) on August 26 at the Bank Stadium in Townsville that is predicted to have a capacity attendance of 16,000 that will be televised on Foxtel Main Event Pay-Per-View
Promoters: D&L Events Dean Lonergan &
No Limit Boxing Promotions Matt Rose.
Matchmaker: Stuart Duncan
OK not a huge horn fan – but before you slate him. He fights for our entertainment – without fighters there is no boxing – it takes all kinds to make boxing work. Stop blaming him for decisions and who he fights – he’s not the judges or the match makers. Yeah you can say no to matchmakers – but there ain’t a lot of offers in Aussie boxing so give the man a break.
Also – present your Olympic-amateur record and professional record before slating any boxer.
Tszyu in 2!
One thing is for sure. We know Horn’s style of fighting does not work against a slick boxer who can move at angles. Crawford was having target practice on Horn’s chin in their match up and it battered Horn severely. Horn needs to evaluate his career and get out while the getting is good. His health is a safety concern.
What ability are you saying!?!
Horn = BOOOOOOOOO!!!!
TIM TSZYU is a seriously good fighter who could go on and challenge the best in the light middleweight division. Horn will need to be at his absolute best to win otherwise he won’t.
Let’s be real. You lost to Pacquiao!!!
hahaha…fukman was afraid of jeff horn…and did not agreed on a rematch
Your horny boy really got beaten by pacman horny is a walking punching bag. You could see his frankenstein face after the fight compared to pacman, if u dont agree u must be blind lols.
Why need a rematch if its already clear that he lost big time to Pacquiao. Plus he really fought dirty. No way..call it whatever you can, but its good that Pacquiao turn his back to this dirty, no good Aussie fighter!!!
No need for a rematch if its really clear that Jeff Horn clearly loss to Pacquiao. Plus the guy is a real dirty fighter. It’s good that Pacquiao turn his back to this no good Aussie fighter!!!
Your boxer is a coward
When pacquiao want a rematch you make another fight to another. Boxer.
But when pacquiao won and your guys lost you want to fight pacquiao.
Ha ha ha boooooooo you robbe pacquiao.
Your boxer is a chicken
Dirty fighter and clearly lost to Pacman
I think Jeff Horne is a mediocre boxer that got lucky against Manny Pacquiao. A good boxer or fighter like Tim Tszyu, who prepared well could easily beat Horne. Tim Tszyu is going places, not sure you can say the same about Horne.
it was cheat by the australian judges. Once you cheat always a cheater. Babooo
It was not a Australian Judges they all from other Countries like USA etc..
Obviously you havent watched many of Hornes fights give it a shot try opening both eyes this time
Been watching boxing for a long time. And this Jeff horn fighter is really a sore in the eye to watch. No style, no power moves, all dirty. Good advice to him, just stay down under.
You didnt win that Pacquiao fight…in a boxing match,maybe in wrestling,u did it right.and using a lot of your elbows and head..sorry,it didnt work for Bud. Just sayin….
jeff horn did not win against pacquiao. the judges gave him the win.
An IDIOT who has very little boxing skills was exposed as a PUNK by Terence Crawford will be forced to retire soon by Tszyu come August 26. The way he robbed the Fuckman Dwarf was a black mark for Australian boxing and will be remembered with shame for a long long time.
I suggest he must fight Manny Paquaoi again. That is a very good match and to fight in the StatesBe
No need to fight Pacquiao again. Why would he give a dirty fighter a chance? Let it rest, we, boxing fans all know that Pacquiao was robbed, and if he (Horn) wants to think he won the fight, let him dream and few years from now he will be buried into oblivion…
It was clearly said that the judges were watching a different boxing match.sorry hornet you did nit win you guys cheated. Have you seen your face after the fight.
During your interview after the match, the announcer mentioned that you did not win at all and he has the right to tell you that. Period.
You did’nt beat Manny Pacquiao, are you still dreaming hahaha its very clear the Judges and the referee beat Manny Pacquiao..
Damn this fighter gets no love for surviving against one of the greatest p4p fighters ever sure he got hometown decision but this man can fight,Take a serious beating and fight back, built like a bull!
2012 Olympics??! Jeff Horn must be dreaming!
Defeating Pacquiao??
He must be having nightmares! Everybody knows he was badly beaten. Only the dirty judges made him win.
You dont need to promote your resume, your not a champion at all, bullfight is the best for you bring their a red turban in spain. U and arum are cheater, lol
Boy Manny whooped you and battered YOU. You were sent to hospital and Manny wasn’t. Gifted decision. Your heart won’t ever rest because you know you got beat.
Horn never defeated pacquiao and he knew it, arum knew it even before the fight that theres no way horn can beat pacquiao. The worst decision in recent years.
So many haters on Horn. He did not control the judges. He has made millions doing his best against the best. Those talking here will never be a professional fighter or have any success in boxing. Only armchair jealously. I do not rate Horn either good or bad. But he has made millions so good for him.
That doesn’t make you a professional fighter nor have any success in boxing too (unless it turned out your are one of those elite fighters, though I doubt it)..You are also an armchair watcher. But at least we (the boxing fans knows the truth). I didn’t hate Jeff Horn, but I will never call him a boxer. I will call him a brawler, and a dirty fighter. Maybe his style is good in gutter fight!!!
Hahaha…he win again Paquiao via MAFIA…OR VIA DOLLAR FOR THE JUDGES?
Horn did not won against pacquiao…pacquiao was clearly robbed on that fight..both by horn and the referee including the judges..
The Judges and the Referee defeated PACMAN. Jeff Horn knows he lost before the announcement. Shame on you Judges, Referee, Jeff Horn and his Trainer.
Horn has a lot of heart!
JEFF HORN FOUGHT TO HIS BEST AGAINST MANNY PACMAN .. IF THE JUDGES SAW IT THAT WAY THAT HE WORN THE FIGHT THEN GOOD .
CORRUPTION IN BOXING..
The Pacman lost to Bobby boy Arum
Jeff Horn will be in for the fight of his life against Tim Tzyu, and will be taught a serious boxing lesson
This may or may nor sey thT Tsyu is here and waiting.p
If it wasn’t for three blind mice (the judges in the Pacquiao fight) Horn would just be another name in boxing. Gotta quietly smile at how the Aussies think he is a world-beater.
How can people believe that Horn he won against Manny Pacquiao how how , that was a complete set up from top rank because manny dint sSigned a contract with him on he’s last contract , the only way that hurn fifth is with he’s head why ya think that manny doesn’t want no part of hem with the rematch please he’s a bummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm