Jeff Horn, who ended Anthony Mundine’s career, has a real decision to make regarding his own career in either to move up in weight to either super-welterweight or middleweight, or return to welterweight to regain his world championship status.
The former WBO welterweight champion lost his title to Terence Crawford in June and is looking to regain a world title belt.
Thanks to his epic defeat of Anthony Mundine, winning the WBA Oceania and the WBO Oriental middleweight titles, Horn is now ranked fifth for middleweights in the world. Horn has never actually fought and the middleweight limit of 166 lbs or 72.5kg as when he fought Mundine the weight limit was 71kg or 157lbs. This weight limit is between the super-welterweight (154lbs or 69kg) and the middleweight division.
With this ranking, he can make a claim for another title shot. WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade could be a potential next opponent for Horn, although Andrade does have a defence of his title coming up next month against Arthur Akavov.
Horn could be a challenger for the winner of the bout. Adding to the fact that he has already been a champion with the WBO, this only helps his cause.
WBA (regular) champion Rob Brant who is yet to defend his newly-won title could potentially have Horn as his first defence. Brant is ranked the tenth top middleweight in the world and could use Horn who is ranked fifth as an opportunity to prove a point a take that fifth ranking in the middleweight division.
Horn could also drop to the super-welterweight division and make some noise in that division. Newly crowned WBC super-welterweight champion Tony Harrison, who just last week defeated Jermell Charlo, will no doubt be looking for a first defence of his belt and Horn could fill that space. WBO champion Jaime Mungula could also be in the pipeline, but considering the fact that Horn’s sparring Dennis Hogan is now the number one contender for that title, Horn would be better waiting for that fight.
If Hogan is successful, it could result in another all Aussie huge title fight similar to Lester Ellis v Barry Michael, when the former sparring partners squared off for the IBF super-featherweight title.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Horn has also said that he would like to fight Saul Alvarez, but considering he has his own decision to make regarding what weight he will continue to fight at considering his Super-middleweight triumph just recently, Horn is a long way for that fight.
A return to the welterweight division, in my opinion, would not that be fruitful for Horn. Horn is now in his 30s and has had problems making the 147lbs, 66.6kg weight limit. Plus that division is the most highly contested divisions in boxing and Horn was completely outclassed by Crawford. Errol Spence Jr (IBF) champ and Shawn Porter (WBC) would light work of Horn and the extra weight of the super-welterweight or middleweight division gives the extra power that Horn needs to have an advantage over his opponents.
2019 will be an interesting year in boxing as it will be the first year without Anthony Mundine fighting (hopefully) and will give Horn a chance to make a new career move. So super-welterweight or middleweight, what do you think?
Rex
Guest
I stand corrected Sakio Bika and Daniel Geale June to August 2013.
Rex
Guest
Billy Dib and Daniel Geale held the IBF world belts from 2011 to 2013 in featherweight and middleweight.
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
No Danny Green and Mundine were WBA world champs at the same time in 2007/08. Green was light-heavyweight while Mundine was super-middleweight. 09 Was also a great year for boxing with Geale, Mundine and Green all holding IBO world titles
Sports Fan 101
Roar Rookie
it certainly would be Drew, Its been a while since Australia has had two world champions at the same time. not since the Fenech Harding era if im correct
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Awesome ???? I read that on the web, it would great to have a world champ again
Sports Fan 101
Roar Rookie
On that Drew, I hear that Horn is nudging closer to a deal .
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Looks like Horn may get a shot WBA middleweight champ Rob Bryant, very smart move by Horn, go after the weaker champ and work his way up the chain.
Aussie Boxing Fan
Roar Rookie
well looks like mainevent is desperate to make money with Gallen v Hopoate
Aussie Boxing Fan
Roar Rookie
have to stop losing my passwords, ha ah
Auzzie Boxing Fan
Roar Rookie
Horn is still trying to get a reamtch with Pacquiao, but Pacquiao has squashed the notion that he wants to get back into the ring with Horn. Also Horn needs to go up to SWW and take on Brook or another top contender, at the moment he is not ready for a title shot.
Drew Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Looks like Horn could be taking on kell brook in May, this would be an excellent bout
Steveo
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately I think you correct via Hogan, he probably won’t get it done. But plenty thought the same about Horn v Pacquiao, so anything is possible
John Coomer
Roar Guru
I hope I'm wrong, but I think Hogan will fall short against Munguia, who is a very impressive fighter. Hogan is also trained by Glenn Rushton (Jeff Horn's trainer), so while a fight between them would be great, that's another obstacle in the way of it. I agree Amir Khan would be a great test for Jeff.
Steveo
Roar Rookie
I had a fourth article up then taken down, why is this???
Bigdon
Guest
From what I have seen Jeff Horn is a lovely bloke, pretty strong, heart of a lion but lacking in boxing fundamentals. Any skilful world class welterweight, super welterweight or middleweight will slowly and methodically break him down. Strength, heart, a good chin and limited defensive skills can do you a lot of harm as a professional boxer.
Richard G
Guest
Super welter is the go for Horn, a new (American) trainer would help a lot but Jeff's a real home boy so training in the US is out. Jeff's ring craft is not the best so a good trainer could help there, Crawford exploited that superbly so if the status quo remains then I think he will do well in super welter but find it difficult to win a meaningful title. But if he starts all his fights like he did against Mundine then who knows.
Steveo
Roar Rookie
Excellent evaluation of my article Rex, maybe you should write an article. I agree with the Boxrec rankings, it seems strange to me that a man that has never fought middleweight officially can out rank a middleweight champion. I honestly think that Super-welterweight is the way to go for Horn as the middleweight will be too big and strong for Horn. Amir Khan would be a good test for Horn or maybe he waits until Dennis Hogan has his shot at the WBO title. Another all Aussie world title fight would be awesome for Aussie boxing
Rex
Guest
Firstly Horn does not have a middleweight ranking, the number 5 you refer to is with Boxrec, a boxing website that is not recognised and does not qualify the boxer for anything, no boxer is at all interested in taking another boxers Boxrec rank. don't be fooled by team Horn's propaganda. Boxrec use a mathematical equation to calculate rankings, it is the controversial win over Pacquiao that keeps his boxrec rank high. It's middleweight because he last fought at middle which is 160lbs by the way. You need to be ranked in the top 15 with one of the 4 recognised bodies to qualify for a title shot. If Horn wants a title shot next he has 2 choices Jarret Hurd's IBF superwelter crown (he is also WBA champ) or Shawn Porter's WBC welterweight belt. Both the IBF and WBC have strict regulations regarding making weight and rehydration which won't suit Horn who likes to boil down just before weigh-in. Any other title shot will require Horn to defeat someone in the top 15 and take their rank to qualify. Aussie Michael Zerafa who just went the distance with Kell Brook is ranked #8 WBA at 154lbs a win against him would qualify Horn for a shot at regular champ Brian Castano, one of the many names team Horn has dropped. He's no chance of getting Hurd or Porter, the Crawford loss has erased the Pacquiao win and Horn has to earn his stripes, although money talks and with his Mundine money and financial backing from the QLD government he could buy an opponent like he did with Pacquiao. Currently (Pacquiao aside) there are no big names on his resume, just like to see him fight a quality boxer in their prime so we can gauge how good he is, I think team Horn are avoiding quality fringe boxers because they know a loss would mean the end, no shame in losing to Crawford but if a guy ranked 20 odd beats you then people will say Horn was a fraud he was never that good.
dazell
Roar Rookie
He should definitely move up to middleweight but I am just not sure he has the power to be successful.
Monday QB
Guest
He should move up. The Crawford fight confirmed that in my opinion. I don't think he's all that comfortable making the weight at welterweight.