Bloodied Jeff Horn wins in fight against Michael Zerafa in Brisbane
Having been beaten by Michael Zerafa in August, Jeff Horn is now back in the world title picture.
Jeff Horn got his career back on track on Wednesday night. He did it in a war at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre wearing gloves with Michael Zerafa’s name on the thumbs.
Having been beaten by Zerafa only four months ago, Horn avenged that loss with a majority points victory that put him back in the world title picture.
This was the Horn who shocked the world when he beat boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. The same Horn who captured hearts and minds with his guts and courage.
Horn looked gone for all money in the ninth round as Zerafa swarmed all over him. Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton was on the ring apron and seemingly ready to put a halt to the bout.
God knows how Horn stayed on his feet. Fortunes changed when the referee stopped the fight to allow the doctor to check the cuts on Horn’s head.
When the action resumed, Horn caught Zerafa with a devastating right hand that sat the Victorian on the seat of his pants.
Horn wins majority points decision. 94-94, 98-90 97-92. Great fight. Kudos to both men. That was a war
— Brent Read (@brentread_7) December 18, 2019
Somehow Zerafa got back to his feet but he was back down moments later. The fight had dramatically changed with one punch, Horn steering clear of trouble in the final round to secure a victory that has revived his career.
One judge scored it a 94-94 draw but the others had Horn winning 98-90 and 97-92, as he took WBA and WBO middleweight regional titles off Zerafa.
Horn talked about world titles afterwards but a more immediate fight may be against Tim Tszyu, which would be worth big money for both men.
“The Hornet is back,” Horn said.
What a warrior #HornZerafa2 pic.twitter.com/zDqd2vv2yM
— Brent Read (@brentread_7) December 18, 2019
No question there. Horn was stunned by Zerafa only four months ago in Bendigo, entering that fight a heavy favourite before being stopped in the ninth round.
It was Zerafa who entered the ring on Wednesday night as the heavy favourite despite claims from the Horn camp that the former world champion had rededicated himself in the weeks leading up to the fight.
Horn had taken advice from a nutritionist, followed a strict diet and focused on his fitness. He looked fitter and stronger but the ultimate test would come when the opening bell sounded as Horn attempted too exorcise the demons from that last-start defeat to Zerafa.
The night didn’t get off to a great start for Horn after a drama over the gloves, remarkably entering the ring wearing gloves with Zerafa’s name on them.
There was no question who was the crowd favourite. While Horn was cheered, Zerafa was jeered. The setting was intimate but that only made the reaction to Zerafa more incendiary.
Horn wasted no time getting on the front foot, throwing a right hand haymaker only seconds after the opening bell. Horn was the more aggressive and he swarmed over Zerafa on the opening round, appearing to carry few scars from his loss in August.
Horn’s aggression came at a price. Late in the first round he thew Zerafa to the ground but it was Horn who wore the early scars, a cut opened above his left eye after a head clash.
Zerafa landed his first blow of any note in the second round as Horn charged in, a right hand catching the former world champion. It was Horn who finished the round the stronger as he responded with a right and of his own.
Zerafa started to find his range in the third as he grew into the fight and began to find his range but it was Horn who landed the better shots in round 4, a left hook that caught Zerafa flush on the jaw the highlight.
Horn caught Zerafa with some clean shots in round seven but he was beginning to feel the pinch. Horn had built up a points leading Zerafa realised he needed to knock out the Queenslander.
Zerafa began the ninth round like a man on a mission and swarmed over Horn, A big right hand changed the night and the fortunes of both men.
“No excuses,” Zerafa said.
“He was the better man.”
In the co-main event, Liam Wilson continued his unbeaten run as he scored a unanimous points victory over Argentinian Mauro Alex Hasan Perouene to claim the IBF youth super featherweight title.
Wilson dropped Perouene in the opening minutes of the flight but as the round came to a close, the Queenslander was forced to pick himself off the canvas after the fighters traded punches following the bell.
The pair continued to trade bombs in the second round and thereafter. The Argentinian showed tremendous courage to keep absorbing blows to both the body and the head, Wilson’s power and workmate giving him a decisive edge.
Wilson won every round on two of the cards and lost only one round on the third.
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