Jeff Horn vs. Gary Corcoran Odds and Prediction

Jeff Horn will make the first defense of his WBO welterweight title against England’s Gary Corcoran on December 13th, 2017 at the Brisbane Convention Center in Brisbane, Australia.

Battle of Brisbane 2

Dubbed as the Battle of Brisbane II, Horn will be fighting for the first time since his upset victory over Filipino 8 division world champion Manny Pacquiao last July 2nd. That bout was the original Battle of Brisbane where Horn rose to prominence by dethroning Pacquiao via controversial unanimous decision.

Pacquiao had a rematch clause and was expected to exercise it this November. But Pacman changed his mind due to his busy schedule as a senator in his native Philippines. So Horn will now defend it against Corcoran who will be fighting outside British soil for the first time in his career.

Corcoran is virtually untested as a pro but has won two in a row since suffering an 11th round knockout loss to Liam Williams in July of 2016. The Englishman has a 17-1 record with 7 KOs. In his most recent bout, Corcoran defeated Larry Ekundayo who is considered as Nigeria’s top boxer.

Tough and Gritty

Horn is the solid favorite here at -600, while the challenger Corcoran is the underdog at +350.  Horn’s upset win over Manny Pacquiao clearly had a lot to say about this line. But to Horn’s credit, he proved that despite his lack of athleticism, he is a tough and gritty fighter.

Horn can take a beating yet still stay in the fight. He is an accurate brawler and he is able to slip in short but crisp power shots that make him effective as a counter puncher. Against Corcoran, Horn not only has the advantage in toughness but also in punching power.

Power Is A Factor

Corcoran is a pressure fighter who likes to swarm his opponent from start to finish. Like Horn, he has an aggressive fighting style but unlike the Aussie, he doesn’t pack as much power in his punches. That may be a huge factor in this fight because if the two ever get toe to toe, which is likely given their style, Horn has the power to put Corcoran to sleep.

Horn isn’t really an elite fighter. With all due respect to him, he won the Pacquiao fight with a hometown decision. Still, Corcoran hasn’t fought anybody at Horn’s level. This is the Englishman’s first world title fight and he isn’t just fighting outside England for the first time; he is fighting the champion in his own backyard.

Having said those, we’re picking Jeff Horn to remain unbeaten and keep his title. He won’t need a hometown decision here. It’s going to be his coming out party. Jeff Horn by a tough but clear unanimous decision.