Horn enlists Filipino as sparring partner

MANILA, Philippines - If WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has an Australian strength coach by his side, challenger Jeff Horn has for himself a Filipino sparring partner.

According to The Courier Mail of Brisbane, the 29-year-old Horn is scheduled to spar with Filipino Czar Amonsot.

Pacquiao, the Filipino icon, and Horn, the pride of Brisbane, will clash on July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium before an expected crowd of 55,000.

Reports said 40,000 of the tickets have been sold.

The 29-year-old Horn, who’s in the fight of his life, has hired Amonsot, who will try his best to fight like Pacquiao, the eight-division champion.

Amonsot is a sturdy fighter and a southpaw of almost the same height with the 38-year-old senator.

He loves to enter the ring with a fancy hairdo, and carries a record of 34-3-3 with 22 knockouts, and has been knocked out twice.

Amonsot was born in Tagbilaran City in Bohol but is now based in Victoria in Australia, where he has fought his last 12 fights, and has won his last three by knockout, the last one only two months ago.

Pacquiao is training under American  Freddie Roach and Justin Fortune, the strength coach and former heavyweight contender from Australia, who’d been around Pacquiao for more than 10 years now.