Horn inspired by near KO over Manny

BRISBANE –  WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has faced two Australians in his 67-fight career over the last 22 years and one of them nearly knocked him out. In 2000, Nedal Hussein floored Pacquiao in the fourth round of a brawl at the Ynares Center in Antipolo and referee Sonny Padilla was accused of saving the Filipino icon with a long count.  Pacquiao eventually cleared the cobwebs in his head and halted Hussein in the 10th round when Padilla ruled the Sydney fighter of Armenian descent unfit to continue because of cut over the left eye.

Hussein’s cornerman Jeff Fenech, the legendary Australian champion, howled in protest because it seemed like the cut wasn’t too severe. But Padilla held his ground. At the time of the stoppage, Pacquiao was ahead on all the three judges’ scorecards, including Australian Garry Dean’s tally.

This morning (Manila time), Pacquiao will stake his crown against Jeff Horn at the Suncorp Stadium here. Horn will be Pacquiao’s third Australian opponent after Todd Makelim who was stopped in 1999 and Hussein. Another Sydney fighter Arnel Barotillo was knocked out by Pacquiao in 2000 but doesn’t count as an Australian since he’s a full-blooded Filipino from Catanduanes.

Horn will try to do to Pacquiao what Hussein almost did 17 years ago. Fenech will be in the stadium cheering for Horn to avenge Hussein’s defeat. Australian TV boxing commentator and promoter Peter Maniatis said Hussein might also be in the crowd.

“Some things I wish I did different but it doesn’t matter,” said Hussein, quoted in Inside Sport. “You can’t dwell on the past. The crowd when I fought in the Philippines was a big advantage. It was very tough, very hostile. They’re ruthless there, man. It would have influenced the fight with the officials and the judging for sure. I was surprised when Pacquiao went down when I hit him, to be honest. It was only a jab.  The referee was Filipino. He 100 percent stopped it too early.”

Hussein, 39, advised Horn to be patient against the champion. “Pacquiao likes to bring fighters onto his shots,” he said. “He likes to pick them off, he likes to hit them as they come in. I think patience is the key. He hasn’t had a knockout in six years. He hasn’t put anyone away. I think as he’s gone up in weight, his power is not there. At featherweight and lightweight, he was knocking people out cold. Ricky Hatton, David Diaz, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Horn’s a big fella. He’s very awkward and unpredictable which might work in his favor.”

Horn was quoted by Inside Sport as calling himself a “broken rhythm, pressure fighter” and his style has been described as revolving around constant offensive aggravation to veil his next attack. “He’s hoping to rob Pacquiao of his rhythm and frustrate then punish the older fighter,” wrote Luke Dodemaide. Pacquiao is 38 and Horn, 29.

Horn said his trainer Glenn Rushton and Korean-born conditioning coach Dundee Kim got him ready to score the biggest win in his career. “I believe I can do this and I know my preparation has been spot on,” he said. “Glenn is the guy who taught me how to throw a punch, how to make a fist, how to make someone attacking me miss with their punches. And Dundee has put the muscle and strength on me which I know can overcome anything Pacquiao throws at me. Pacquiao has had huge success over 20 years and after a while, that can make you less hungry. I have everything I need to win this fight and bring the world welterweight title to Australia.”