Tag Archives: Jeff Horn

Jeff Horn vs. Gary Corcoran Odds and Prediction

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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.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn: Does the Aussie Have A Chance?

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Filipino ring legend Manny Pacquiao returns to the boxing ring on July 2nd, 2017 to face young Australian Jeff Horn at the SunCorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.

Legend Still Has It

Aptly dubbed as the Battle of Brisbane, the bout will be for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title, which he won after a masterful domination of Jessie Vargas last November. The 38-year old Pacquiao announced his retirement after the bout but despite being busy with his duties as a lawmaker in his country, the Pacman’s urge to fight will bring him to Australia for the first time in his boxing career.

Although Pacquiao should be well past his prime, he still proved that he still has what it takes to take on the best welterweights in the business. Prior to beating Vargas, Pacquiao masterfully out-boxed Timothy Bradley in April of 2016 to prove that he still belongs among the elite. The victory over Bradley was his first bout since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015.

Dangerous Opponent

Jeff Horn is nowhere near the caliber of fighter Jessie Vargas is, much more Timothy Bradley. But unlike both, he presents a clear and present danger for Pacquiao simply because he is a wild card with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Horn is coming off a December victory over Ali Funeka and is considered the best pound for pound fighter in Australia. He has limited athleticism but has enough power to put his opponents to sleep. Horn is also a smart boxer who can counter well and dodge punches. Manny Pacquiao though is a giant leap in level of competition for the fighting former school teacher. This is an odd fight for Pacman because he is one of the biggest names in the sport and has nothing to prove. Yet he will be fighting an unknown but solid fighter on hostile ground.

Odds and Prediction

Pacquiao is currently a -700 favorite against Horn who is at +450. As we said, the unknown factor and home crowd are a big plus for Jeff Horn. Sometimes the biggest upsets happen when you least expect them. Horn may not be a world beater but given this opportunity of a lifetime, you’ll expect him to bring his A-game.

Beating Pacquiao is easier said than done though. Despite his advanced age, Manny Pacquiao looked in tremendous shape against Jessie Vargas. He was even the faster and quicker fighter than the two. Given Manny Pacquiao’s hand speed, footwork and ring IQ, it’s going to be an uphill battle for Jeff Horn. The Aussie is sometimes lazy with his footwork and against Pacquiao, that’s a recipe for disaster. Manny Pacquiao is going to run circles around Jeff Horn. He’s going to pound him with his famous four or five punch combos. It’s going to be  dangerous fight, yes. Jeff Horn is a live opponent. But we think Pacquiao is eons better in skill and speed. We are picking Manny Pacquiao to win by unanimous decision after a little scare from Jeff Horn.