Boxer Jeff Horn fight’s Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao on Sunday after changing the lives of Logan schoolchildren

BOXER Jeff Horn will step into the ring in the Battle of Brisbane against Manny Pacquiao on Sunday. School students however have revealed a nurturing side to the fighter.

Springwood State High School students Lily Ryan, Liberty Procopis, Kaleb Stehr, and Thor Waters regularly have boxing sessions with Jeff Horn. Picture: Peter Cronin

ACACIA Ridge boxer Jeff Horn will step into the ring on Sunday in what shapes as a brutal Battle of Brisbane against Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao.

But students at a south side school have revealed a softer side to the rough edges of Horn ahead of the world welterweight title bout at Suncorp Stadium.

Between boxing commitments Horn oversees a boxing program involving Springwood State High School at Dundee’s Gym in West End.

Horn, a former physical education teacher at the school, helps raise the self- esteem of students and teach them discipline.

“He has helped me with my self-confidence,’’ Year 11 student Liberty Procopis, of Rochedale, said.

Another student, Chaneya Borchardt, added: “He seems calm and nice. He shows us if he can do it (be successful), anyone can.’’

Year 11 student Erin Alice said working with Horn “has made you more powerful as a person’’.

Success coach at the high school Emma Williams said Horn had “always been there for our students’’.

“Even just days after bouts, Jeff has walked into Dundee Kim’s gym to offer advice and encouragement. It has been wonderful,’’ Ms Williams said.

Horn will flick the switch and leave his nurturing personality behind when he steps into the ring in what his coach Glen Rushton described­ as “the biggest fight in Australian history’’.

“It’s more than a dream come true, it’s crazy to be fighting Manny Pacquiao in front of my home city at Suncorp­ Stadium,’’ Horn said. “I’ve been prepping well and I’m ready mentally for Manny.

Springwood State High School students who have boxing sessions with fighter Jeff Horn include Lily Ryan, Liberty Procopis, Chaneya Borchardt, Erin Alice, Kaleb Stehr, and Thor Waters. Picture: Peter Cronin

“Everything has gone well and now I’m looking forward to getting out there for the fight.”

Rushton said Horn’s rise to the global stage from a bullied schoolkid to world title contender provided inspiration.

“It’s a story that just gives hope to everyone out there,” he said.

“If a bullied schoolkid can bring down the fighter of the decade then anyone can achieve their dreams.”

Rushton said Horn had been pushed to the limits in training, in order to prepare him for what was to come.

“I’ve been pushing him to the point of almost breaking because he’s going up against a very intense fighter,” Rushton said of eight-division world champion Pacquiao.

“Pacquiao’s one of those guys that you can’t keep up with, so you’ve got to train so that you can keep up.”

Rushton said Horn had the usual pre-fight nerves, but was handling them well.

“I tell him that you have to focus on what has got to be done, rather than the result,” he said.

Horn is a past student of Our Lady of Fatima at Acacia­ Ridge and Macgregor State High School. Principal Liz Foster said the school community wished Horn well and had requested a visit from him post-fight.