Jeff Horn cut in furious final sparring session before flying to US to take on Terence Crawford

JEFF Horn suffered a cut in his sparring war on Tuesday in the most anxious moment of his preparation for the world title defence against Terence Crawford.

JEFF Horn suffered a cut in his sparring war on Tuesday in the most anxious moment of his preparation for the world title defence against Terence Crawford.

Late in the fifth round of his final savage 10-round sparring session with American Ray Robinson at Stretton on, the slugfest was halted as a small nick leaked blood beside Horn’s left eye.

But Brisbane’s world welterweight champion soldiered on, and declaring it was a mere flesh wound, said he was more than ready for anything Crawford threw at him at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday week.

HORN v CRAWFORD: Verbal jabs ahead of Las Vegas showdown

He said he was also ready for any attempts at intimidation from Crawford or his beefy foul-mouthed trainer Brian “Bomac’’ McIntyre in the lead up to what is being billed as the most important fight ever involving an Australian.

Jeff Horn throws a left at Ray Robinson during their sparring session on Tuesday.

Horn was due to leave for Las Vegas on Wednesday morning armed and dangerous with confidence and a $2.5 million payday for the fight at the MGM Grand Casino on Sunday week.

“Crawford and his camp will probably try to push my buttons when I get there, they’ll probably try something at the weigh-in to throw me off but I’m ready for anything,’’ Horn said.

“I’ve trained very hard for this fight and I’m in the best shape of my life. Better than I was even when I beat Manny Pacquiao. Ray Robinson has given me great sparring.’’

Horn and Robinson, who beat Crawford as amateur in 2005, sparred 40 rounds over the last two weeks, 40 of the toughest rounds of Horn’s life.

They did 10 furious ones again on Tuesday with Horn also doing two against Tokyo Olympic prospect Andrew Hunt.

Trainer Glenn Rushton has a 12-point plan to beat Crawford and high up on the list are constant pressure and a varied attack with plenty of hard right hand leads against the wily Crawford, who is undefeated din 32 fights.

A shiver went through the Horn camp on Tuesday when Robinson stopped fighting in the fifth round and pointed to Horn’s cut eye.

Jeff Horn has had his final sparring session before flying to the US to take on Terence Crawford

Rushton said: ``You always worry that something is going to happen on the last day of sparring.

“Fortunately it’s not a bad cut and it will be 100 per cent right by fight time.

“I’m thrilled with Jeff’s preparation. He’s 20 per cent better than when he beat Manny Pacquiao last year. His workrate and intensity are right where I want them.

“Today was a winning spar for Jeff. He is like a soldier hitting the beach. He’s ready to fight right now and ready for anything that the opposition throws at him.’’

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