Zerafa v Horn 2: Tensions rise over lack of respect between two camps ahead of huge Brisbane fight

Win, lose or draw, Jeff Horn won’t be pursuing a third showdown with Michael Zerafa as the war of words continued between the two camps ahead of their big showdown in Brisbane tonight.

Trainer Glenn Rushton (left) and his boxer Jeff Horn (right) are seen during a press conference at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Horn who is the former WBO world welterweight champion has told the media he will not retire after losing his fight against Michael Zerafa in Bendigo and that he would return to the ring before the end of the year. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING

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Don’t expect a third and deciding boxing bout between Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa if the former beats the latter in their rematch.

Thats the message from Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton, who has grown tired of what he perceives as a lack of respect from the Zerafa camp in a feisty buildup to Wednesday night’s middleweight bout in Brisbane.

Rushton said Horn, who is the betting outsider, isn’t quite back to his best, but is much improved on the fighter who was stopped by Zerafa in nine rounds back in August, and is good enough to avenge that defeat.

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Glenn Rushton and Jeff Horn will be glad to see the back of Michael Zerafa.

“After the amount of disrespect, it will be the only time probably that I haven’t gone over to another fighter’s dressing room, because I’d just rather walk away, from that whole team and we’ll move on,” Rushton said.

“There will be no third fight, there will be no more fights with Michael Zerafa, regardless of the outcome, no interest.”

Horn stuck up for his trainer, whose abilities have been called into question by the Zerafa camp.

“They are very disrespectful, the way they talk about Glenn and he’s a rubbish trainer and the way they talk about me that I’m a rubbish fighter,’ Horn said.

“It’s unheard of what they are saying, it’s stupid.

“It does give me extra motivation, when they are saying these type of things, to want to win this fight.”

Michael Zerafa says the lack of respect is mutual.

Zerafa said the lack of respect is mutual.

He has banished from his mind all thoughts of their last meeting and said he is treating this match like the first time the two have fought.

“I’ve trained super hard, my strength, my power, my mental ability has gone through the roof; I’m just on another level,” Zerafa said.

With his chief trainer Sam La Bruna not travelling to Brisbane as he doesn’t take flights, Zerafa’s stablemate and world ranked light heavyweight Blake Caparello will run his corner.

La Bruna will watch the fight on TV and send texts to the corner.

Originally published as Zerafa v Horn 2: Tensions rise over lack of respect between two camps ahead of huge Brisbane fight