Glenn Rushton apologises to Jeff Horn for not stopping fight sooner

Trainer Glenn Rushton has apologised to Jeff Horn and his family for not stepping in sooner to stop the fight on Saturday night.

Jeff Horn and his long-time trainer Glenn Rushton in Bendigo on Saturday night. Picture: AAP

Trainer Glenn Rushton has apologised to Jeff Horn and his family for not stepping in sooner in Bendigo on Saturday night, while at the same time defending his handling of a situation that has prompted some to suggest he should be dumped by the former world champion.

Rushton, who guided Horn to a stunning world title win over Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao two years ago, has been in the eye of the storm following Horn’s knockout loss to compatriot Michael Zerafa last Saturday night at Bendigo Stadium.

Of most concern was the ending to the fight when Horn was being battered from pillar to post. Horn’s brother Ben eventually threw in the towel and many have questioned why Rushton didn’t step in when he had the chance.

Rushton has been by Horn’s side for his entire boxing career and revealed he had great regret over the way the fight ended and his involvement in the dramatic events, which led former world champion Jeff Fenech to suggest Horn had been let down by his long-time trainer.

“A lot of people don’t have all the facts,” Rushton said.

“A lot of people act emotionally and not rationally. Let me explain what happened.

“Jeff Horn gets knocked down, there is a flurry of punches. There is not one super big punch.

“I thought the fight was going to be stopped and I went onto the apron and thought if he (the referee) doesn’t stop it, I am going to wave the fight off.

“Jeff is on the ground. Jeff stands upon his feet. The referee starts to count. Jeff wobbles a bit and then straightens up.

“He has his back to me — I can’t see his face at all. Jeff steadies on his feet. I have Jeff Horn’s father on the left and Ben Horn, his brother on the right.

“Jeff Horn (senior) is saying stop the fight, stop the fight. I am trying to weigh a lot up. I am looking at the clock and there is 34 seconds to go.

“The referee is looking Jeff right in the eye. He is in the best position to make the call because he can see his face.

“I can tell you right now if I had seen his face, I would have stopped the fight. I would have stopped the fight, have no doubt about that.

“I am very apologetic about that. I did apologise to Jeff, his parents and his whole family that I didn’t stop it.”

Rushton said Horn had been checked for concussion and undergone an ophthalmology assessment since the fight and had been given the all-clear.

“I thought the referee was in the best place to make that call,” Rushton said.

“Do I think it was the wrong call? Yes. Do I think I made the wrong call? Yes.

“But only given the knowledge that I obtained after the fight and I had to make this call in real time remember.

“That is actually what happened blow by blow and why I did what I did. Of course I love Jeff like a son and of course the last thing I ever want to see is him get hurt.

“As I said at the time I could only see the back of his head, he motioned he wanted to fight. With all the added info I have gone and apologised to everybody.

“Everyone has perfect vision looking backwards. Had Zerafa run over to finish Jeff off, and Jeff thrown a huge right hand and knocked him out cold to win the fight, I wouldn’t be having this conversation now I assure you.”

As for Horn’s future, Rushton said they would have that discussion in coming weeks.

“The main thing here is motivation and that is a conversation we have to have in a couple of weeks time,” he said.

“Since the Pacquiao fight I haven’t seen the same hunger. Either he gets that back or he has to give it away. He has to dig deep and decide where he wants to go.”