Jeff Horn vs Gary Corcoran highlights: WBO World Welterweight Championship result, live blog, round-by-round updates

Fight result

Jeff Horn has retained his WBO world welterweight title with an 11th round TKO win over Britain’s Gary Corcoran.

It’s was Horn’s first defence of the title he won via unanimous decision against Manny Pacquiao back in July. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, Horn fought another war against a very gutsy challenger.

Both fighters were cut during the bout. After several close rounds where both fighters were trading punches, Horn started to get on top in the last few rounds.

His big shots started to land more cleanly and the cut over Corcoran’s eye got progressively worse. He was starting to have trouble seeing Horn’s punches and his corner made the decision to end the fight.

Horn generally looked to have more sting in his punches, but Corcoran’s work rate and determination to take the fight to Horn was impressive. Horn found him to be an awkward opponent, continually coming forward. He looked better when he boxed Corcoran from the outside rather than trading with him.

Corcoran certainly fought better than his 15-1 odds going into the fight suggested he would. He gave it everything he had and was very competitive.

The win takes Horn’s record to 18-0-1, and 2018 holds plenty of lucrative but tough opportunities for him.

His mandatory defence is scheduled to be against unbeaten American Terence Crawford (32-0) in March/April, with Las Vegas the likely venue. Crawford is a former undisputed junior welterweight champion of the world, but has vacated his word title belts to have a crack at the welterweight division.

Crawford will be a very big test for Horn and he’ll have to improve on tonight’s performance. There’s also a potential rematch with Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane later in the year.

Another former junior welterweight champion, Englishman Amir Khan (31-4), was also at ringside in Brisbane tonight and has put his hand up for a shot at Horn’s title.

But for now, Horn can sit back and relax while he plans his next move. He’ll also become a father for the first time in the next few weeks, so it’s been quite a year for him.

Highlights of the undercard bouts included an impressive performance from young Western Australian Nathaniel May, who dropped the previously unbeaten Brazilian Aelio Mesquita three times inside five rounds. May’s record improves to 19-1.

Gold Coast-based super middleweight Rohan Murdock was also impressive in beating tough Russian Apti Ustarkhanov via a unanimous decision. Murdock’s record is now 21-1.

Fight preview

Australia’s Jeff Horn takes on Englishman Gary “The Hellraiser” Corcoran in the first defence of his world welterweight title. Join The Roar on Wednesday night from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live fight coverage, debate and round-by-round updates in our blog.

Horn’s life changed forever when he upset Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium back in July. He enters this bout as a heavy favourite, but may not have things all his own way against Corcoran.

The 27-year-old Englishman is looking to change his life by taking Horn’s belt. It should be an action-packed fight, with both fighters likely to come forward and trade punches.

Horn won’t have the size advantage over Corcoran that he did against Pacquiao. The Englishman has campaigned at a super welterweight for much of his 18-fight pro career, which is about 3kg heavier than the welterweight limit.

The only loss of Corcoran’s career came in July last year. He was stopped by Welshman Liam Williams (16-2-1) in the 11th round of their British super welterweight title fight.

Since then, Corcoran has come down in weight and had two wins. His last bout was a split decision victory against the previously unbeaten Nigerian Larry Ekundayo (12-1).

A win for 29-year-old Horn could see him head to Las Vegas next April for a mega fight with unbeaten American Terence Crawford (32-0).

Prediction
Corcoran will give it everything he has, but Jeff Horn will score a KO in the second half of the fight.

Join The Roar on Wednesday night from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live fight coverage, debate and round-by-round updates from the WBO World Welterweight Championship fight between Jeff Horn and Gary Corcoran in our live blog.