Jeff Horn ready for a ‘slugfest’ against Michael Zerafa in Bendigo
Jeff Horn is planning to blow Michael Zerafa out of the ring in the opening round of their bout in Bendigo but concedes the fight will probably drag out into a “slugfest’’.
Boxing/MMA
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Jeff Horn is planning to blow Michael Zerafa out of the ring in the opening round in Bendigo on Saturday night but concedes the fight will probably drag out into a “bloody brawl’’.
The former world welterweight champion has been secretly perfecting a short, sharp overhand right to catch Zerafa cold but is ready for a slugfest for the World Boxing Association Oceania middleweight title.
Zerafa, 27, who has supplemented his boxing training with 10 weeks of motivational sessions with a sports psychologist, says he has no fear of the new-look heavier Horn, who has packed on 5.5kg since beating Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium and who boasts of vastly improved punching power.
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As Horn disrobed at Friday’s weigh-in at Bendigo Stadium, Zerafa said: “I see a weak fighter. He doesn’t look fit. I know Horn is tough but the extra weight will only make him slower. His footwork won’t be the same.’’
Horn says he will move fast enough to jump on Zerafa in the opening round as he tries to use his extra weight to squeeze all the fight out of an opponent who is a former Commonwealth champion, and who has 26 wins in 29 fights.
“The dream scenario is to make this fight quick, just like my last fight when I knocked Anthony Mundine out in the first round,’’ Horn said.
“Crowds love knockouts.
“I wasn’t expecting to beat Mundine so quickly but I got him and if I can catch Zerafa straight away, I’ll be very happy. But the most likely outcome is a bloody brawl that I win. I think it will be a war, a slugfest. Zerafa is young, strong, fit and he can box.”
Zerafa says a key to the fight is that he has been a 72kg middleweight for most of his career, while Horn is coming up from the smaller welterweight division.
“All the talk about Horn’s new power is just talk,’’ Zerafa said.
“It doesn’t bother me. If he tries to jump on me in round one, I’ll be ready. I’ve trained for a hard fight.
“He’s got an awkward style. He’s very aggressive. He hits you with his head and elbows in close, but I’ve got a longer reach and I know I can outbox him.’’
Horn has been promised that if he wins on Saturday night, he will fight Olympic gold medallist Ryota Murata for the WBA middleweight title in Japan on December 23.
TALE OF THE TAPE
WBA OCEANIA MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE
Bendigo Stadium, Saturday night
Live on Main Event
JEFF HORN
Height: 175cm
Weight: 72.25kg
Age: 31
Record: 19 wins, 1 loss, 1 technical draw
MICHAEL ZERAFA
Height: 180cm
Weight: 72.15kg
Age: 27
Record: 26 wins, 3 losses
Originally published as Jeff Horn ready for a ‘slugfest’ against Michael Zerafa in Bendigo