Jeff Fenech says Michael Zerafa’s only problem against Jeff Horn will be overconfidence

Three-time world champion Jeff Fenech says on December 18 in Brisbane, Michael Zerafa will repeat his big August win over Jeff Horn when Brisbane’s former world welterweight champion was battered to a bloody pulp.

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Michael Zerafa will dominate and stop Jeff Horn even more convincingly than he did in their first fight, according to Australia’s most successful boxer.

Three-time world champion Jeff Fenech, who is still recovering from a heart operation last month, says Zerafa will repeat his win in Bendigo on August 31 when Brisbane’s former world welterweight champion was battered to a bloody pulp in nine rounds.

The pair fight again at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 18 and Zerafa has promised to end Horn’s career with a spectacular victory.

Fenech, who tipped Zerafa before the first fight, says the Melbourne boxer will almost certainly win the return as well.

Michael Zerafa celebrates the win against Jeff Horn at the Bendigo Stadium on August 31. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge)

``Zerafa is only going to get better after winning in Bendigo,’’ Fenech said. ``I know when I won my first world title in 1985 I became twice the fighter. My self-belief went through the roof.

``Zerafa would have been nervous and uncertain going in against the guy who beat Manny Pacquiao. Now he knows he can knock Jeff out.

`` Zerafa’s only danger now is overconfidence.

``Horn is working hard on his fitness but he really needs more skills and a better game-plan.’’

Fenech said Horn’s awkward movement meant little in the first fight against Zerafa’s radar-like long punches.

``Horn was getting hurt a lot,’’ Fenech said. ``He said he had a bad diet for the first fight but a bad diet doesn’t cause you to get rocked by punches – bad defence does.’’

Horn was the hot favourite for the first fight but says he relishes the role of the underdog for the rematch. He is training five hours a day.

Former boxing champion Jeff Fenech gives some advice to Michael Zerafa after a sparring session in Sydney. Picture: Toby Zerna

``Hardly anyone gave me a chance of beating Manny Pacquiao two years ago for the world title but that only made me fight harder,’’ Horn said.

``It’s the same for this fight. I know I didn’t prepare properly for Bendigo but I’m training just like it’s Pacquiao all over again. Beating Zerafa is that important to me.’’

Jeff Horn and Jeff Horn Snr. Picture: Annette Dew

Horn’s father Jeff Snr is lobbying Queensland boxing authorities to implement new safety procedures that he helped introduce in Victoria after Horn’s brutal loss in August. Chief among them is positioning the ringside doctor next to the timekeeper so the doctor can immediately ring the bell to stop a fight rather than battling to gain the referee’s attention.

Horn Snr says his son is desperate to save his career but that he won’t allow him to cop another hiding.

``Realistically Jeff’s time as a fighter is over if he doesn’t win the Zerafa rematch,’’ Horn Snr said, ``but I think Jeff can turn it around. He understands the importance of the moment.’’