Horn trainer wary of Pacquiao’s ‘rope-a-dope’ tactic

BRISBANE, Australia – Jeff Horn successfully did what nobody does to Manny Pacquiao—force the Filipino icon to the ropes in their welterweight title fight Sunday at Suncorp Stadium here.

Usually whenever that happens, it is Pacquiao who initiates and draws his opponent in, hoping the foe punches himself out and becomes vulnerable to retaliatory attack.

That’s why Glenn Rushton, Horn’s trainer, remained wary of Pacquiao’s counter attacks each time the Brisbane native pinned the Filipino icon to the ropes.

“I told Jeff 'watch the gap, keep moving your legs as well as your head. Be careful, he's trying to land that left,’” Rushton told Philstar.com at a press conference after Horn’s shocking unanimous decision win over Pacquiao to become the new WBO welterweight champion.

Horn, aided by his bulk and height, had success bullying Pacquiao in the first three rounds Sunday, often storming at the Filipino right at the bell. Pacquiao, for his part, played victim as he continued to back up at the times Horn came charging at him.

It appeared to be the same “rope-a-dope” ploy Pacquiao did against Miguel Cotto in 2009, which, curiously, was the last time he scored a knockout.

Rushton said he kept reminding Horn not to be too excited.

“Yes, I was always incredibly mindful of that,” Rushton replied when asked about Pacquiao’s luring tactic.

But Pacquiao failed to repeat the same success he had against Cotto years ago, and on Sunday he struggled with Horn’s leaning each time they fought on the ropes.

“I can read boxers very well and I saw what he was trying to do. He tried many times but couldn’t land well against Jeff,” explained Rushton.

Taking Pacquiao to unfamiliar territory is not an easy task, but Rushton was confident that Horn is a guy who could do it.

“No one does that to Manny, but Jeff is so strong and deceptively quick,” he said.