WBO Welterweight Champion Jeff Horn is defending his title against Terence Crawford this Sunday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Now’s the time to down to the business end of the event. The press conference is done, now all that remains is the weigh-in – and the fight.
To predict what I think is going to happen in this fight, I would invite you to cast your minds back to 2001, in particular November 2001. In the same arena then WBC/WBA Super-lightweight champion and follow Aussie boxer Kostya Tszyu put up his two titles against American Zab Judah with Judah putting up his IBF and ring title in the first unification bout for the super-lightweight division in 35 years.
Tszyu was the huge underdog at 32 and was starting to get past his best with Jadah only 24 and coming into his prime. It was said by many experts and pretty much the entire American boxing community that Jadah would use his speed and footwork to easily outclass Tszyu and take his titles.
But despite the eight-year age gap, Tszyu delivered what was the best knockout of the year. In less than two rounds he completely destroyed Zadah, knocking him completely senseless to score the upset of the year.
The fight with Horn and Crawford is very similar. The American is the heavy favourite due to his supreme boxing speed, with the Aussie having the power and weight advantage. Again its speed versus power in this fight and with Kostya versus Jadah it only takes one punch to win a fight.
Personally I think that the fight won’t enter the fifth round with Horn to give the surprise KO of the year. Horn has proven that he can take a punch and recover while Crawford has a soft chin and a habit of leading with it. Horn has huge KO power and Crawford will run into one and not be able to recover.
Horn is going to be too big and strong for Crawford who is coming up from the super-lightweight (140 lbs) division to the 147 lbs welterweight division. Horn will have a good 10-15 lbs weight advantage by fight time and the power punches will be too much for the American to handle.
Expect history to be made – and to repeat itself – come Sunday.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
well was dead wrong about that, oh well
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Don't know could not find out but he does have a daughter. Can anyone confirm his siblings?
Vennegor of Tarsus
Guest
Obi-Wan: "That boy is our last hope." Yoda: "No...there is another..." Does Horn have a sister
Ben
Roar Guru
Jay Nady didn't call that fight off early at all. The rules state that if a fighter gets up, then falls down again after a knockdown, it's an automatic stoppage of the fight.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Thanks Eddie, today is the day that Jeff Horn will become the next Kostya Tszyu and dominant the welterweight division, after his victory, he should go after Errol Spence Jr or Keith Thurman and unify the division. I really feel that Horn has got this as Crawford does not look like he is taking the fight that seriously.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
I love your optimism Jason mate, but geez I have to agree with Rabbits. I'd love Horn to win and will be shouting myself horse at the pub tomorrow, but I can't see it happening.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
no smoking, just an opinion
Rabbits
Guest
Wow! What you smokin' bruh?
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
fair enough, but I see it not going past the fourth.
Rabbits
Guest
No problem guys. I like Crawford over Horn for the reasons stated. Horn will not be intimidated and he's durable. Who doesn't want to see a guy who comes to fight? Crawford is just better and he's been in tough before (albeit against opponents at lower weights) so while it may be interesting and a tad competitive early on, Bud takes over after the sixth and puts a beating on a brave Horn and his corner may even save him around the 10th. That's the way I see it.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
Rabbits, you really need to go and watch some of Horn's fights. He destroyed Samuel Colonbam in less then a round, he beat Randall Bailey into quitting which he has never done, and only six of his fights have gone to the judges scorecards. Crawford is the better skilled fighter, no doubt but just like Jadah he get careless and end up on the canvas. Speaking of Jadah, the ref made the right call within the rules. Jadah got up too quick and fell over again. According to the rules of the fight, if a fighter goes down twice in a ten count they are automatically counted out,. Jadah did recover afterwards but Tszyu would of thumped Jadah again into 2002.
Jason Andrews
Roar Pro
I remember when BigJ backed Horn for the win but he was leaning towards that he has only a punchers chance. But this fight is different, Horn is a better well rounded fighter now and he knows what to expect coming into the bout. The weigh in is done and Horn had to out up the towel to make the weight and accused the weigh in being tampered with, but considering he only weighed in 16grams under the weight limit for his last bout, I don't think there is any fault of anyone's for Horn weigh in. Now Horn can put back on his 15lbs and destroy Crawford tomorrow
Vennegor of Tarsus
Guest
It is
Vennegor of Tarsus
Guest
Mate i've seen his fights and when i watched them i looked at his opponents witch are no match for Horn. I know Crawfords Good but the fight is 50/50. It will be a good fight
Rabbits
Guest
It's good to be hopeful.
Rabbits
Guest
Have you seen Crawford's fights? Ok, now compare that skill set with Horn's. Not in the same league.
Vennegor of Tarsus
Guest
"He hasn’t beaten anyone of note apart from a faded Pacquiao (via a split points decision)." He's only had 19 fights what do you expect and if you beat Manny after your 18th fight then you're doing well even if he's an aged fighter.
Vennegor of Tarsus
Guest
"Postol would beat Horn handily provided Horn isn’t allowed to come into the bought looking like a middleweight." Horn isn't fighting Viktor Postol and Nor is Crawford. Fact is Horn can take a punch and won't get knocked down to the canvas three times like Postol did and despite geting knocked down in the fifth round twice Crawford still couldn't finish him off. Horn punches much harder than Postol or Gamboa and when you get hit it slows fighters reflexes down, Crawford will feel it. Jeff Horn doesn't fight with a style that people find appealing but that is irrelevant to the outcome of the result as some of the best fighters in history didn't have an attractive style of fighting. By the way everyone was trashing fury saying he can't fight, he can and so can Horn. It's results that count
Rabbits
Guest
Postol would beat Horn handily provided Horn isn't allowed to come into the bought looking like a middleweight. Gamboa would be too small for Horn but he'd still tag him and mark him up. That's all you got?
Rabbits
Guest
Zab Judah got careless and paid for it against Tszyu. Tszyu was no joke going into that fight. We knew he had the power to end the fight if he caught Zab and he did. Referee Jay Nady waved off the fight too early. He should have given Zab the full count to see if he could regain his feet and senses. Yes, Judah was on unsteady legs and did a silly dance but he should have been given the chance to see whether he could regain his composure. Tsyzu probably would have put him to sleep but we'll never know. If Zab hadn't been dropped hard early like that he probably would have fought his ass off, going out on his shield somewhere around the 8th or 9th. Using this fight as a comparison of the Crawford v Horn doesn't make sense. Horn is no Tszyu. He doesn't hit as hard or can knock out people out with one punch. He hasn't beaten anyone of note apart from a faded Pacquiao (via a split points decision). In terms of skill, he isn't as astute or naturally gifted like Crawford. There are at least five guys in his weight division who can beat Horn without too much trouble. I will credit Horn for taking on a tough opponent in a title fight that will see him ultimately lose to the better fighter.