Jeff Horn has defied retirement calls and backed himself to fight on
Former world champion Jeff Horn revealed in Townsville when he will draw the curtain on his boxing career.
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There is still life in Jeff Horn’s boxing career, and only he will dictate when the curtain is finally drawn.
It will not be the critics who came out in force after his last bout, nor will it be at the hands of Tim Tszyu.
It will be on his terms.
The Hornet returned to Townsville today for the first time since his emphatic loss to Tszyu and confirmed that he would not be hanging up the gloves.
Should a fight offer come his way he would be eager to return to the ring.
In North Queensland to endorse his anti-bullying campaign with AMAYDA, Horn said he had always pinpointed 35 as the age when athletes fade away from their prime.
And with a young family and life away from the sport to consider, he said he would not be overplaying his hand, but would continue to play it until he felt there was nothing more to give.
Even with a world championship belt to his credit, the Queenslander believes the tank is not empty yet and the drive is still there to compete.
“I’ve heard a lot of ‘why aren’t you retiring?’ and those type of talks, but I’ve got no interest in saying I’m retiring from the sport because once I do that I’m definitely not going back,” Horn said.
“I don’t want to be one of those boxers who retires then comes back, I always said I would be retiring at age 35 and that’s still the plan.
“If I get any good opportunities by that time I’ll take them. I’ve heard whispers of things but nothing I can really say that’s come to front.
“I just want to cement my legacy in the sport I guess. I would love to go out on a win, that’s for sure, it’s frustrating having that last fight – I don’t feel like it was the 100 per cent Jeff Horn that has fought in the past.
“It would be really good to have one more to make sure that’s put to bed, but I’m also a happy man and I don’t need to keep going if I don’t need to.”
Much of the criticism that came at the Horn camp after his Queensland Country Bank Stadium loss in August was directed at his trainer Glenn Rushton.
Many believed the fight should have been called off earlier than when it ended, such was Tszyu dominance from the second round onwards.
It was reported at the time that Rushton pushed Horn to continue, despite his deteriorating state and the likes of Adam Copeland in his corner calling for it to end.
While Horn said he understood the public frustration with his long-time trainer, it was that fight and determination to never throw in the towel that drew him to the veteran in the first place.
“I understand, but I understand Glenn’s point of view as well. I’ve shown (it), I’ve come back from that position before and he’s hoping that I’ve got that in me to keep going,” he said.
“Maybe it was probably the right decision to stop that fight a little bit earlier than it was, but I’ve got Glenn in my corner because I like that about him.
“He’s got that toughness and will to want me to keep going.”
Originally published as Jeff Horn has defied retirement calls and backed himself to fight on