Horn has a plan for Pacquiao but it only takes one punch

The one punch inspiring Jeff Horn to upset Manny Pacquiao this weekend.

Juan Manuel Marquez lands a knockout blow to the head of Manny Pacquiao in their 2012 fight.

Jeff Horn has pored over a 10-point plan devised by his trainer Glenn Rushton to snatch away Manny Pacquiao’s world title but it is one punch that is providing the inspiration for his bid to topple the WBO welterweight king.

Pacquiao’s devastating knockout loss to Juan Manual Marquez five years ago in Las Vegas has helped fuel Horn’s title dream. That punch — and the method in which it was delivered, a right hand to the head as Pacquiao advanced — gives the Brisbane schoolteacher and Rushton reason to believe that they can complete one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history.

The darkest day of Pacquiao’s boxing career is providing the inspiration for the biggest moment of Jeff Horn’s life.

“The Marquez knockout has probably been our main point,” Horn said of his preparations for Sunday afternoon’s fight at Suncorp Stadium.

“Marquez fought Pacquiao the best anyone has fought Pacquiao. He is someone we have looked at a lot. To land the same punch Marquez did in the fight — that big overhand right — is something we will be looking for.”

It won’t be easy. According to Pacquiao’s legendary trainer Freddie Roach, the 11-time world champion has his killer instinct back. He also has a decisive edge in experience.

The gulf between the pair is gaping. Pacquiao has fought 67 times in a stellar career which has garnered him 11 titles across eight weight divisions.

Horn is 17 fights into a career which is on the verge of potentially his first title.

“He is like a samurai warrior these days,” Rushton said. “He is a fierce competitor. I am trying to bring the wisdom of someone who has had 70 fights into someone who has had 17 fights.

“That’s the head on Jeff Horn’s shoulders. Everyone thinksManny will beat Jeff with experience but as I have always said, you don’t hit someone with a left experience or a right experience, you don’t hit them with the eight divisions or 11 world titles.

“It is two guys out there. It is four fists. It’s a matter of whether Jeff can land his two better than Manny can land his two. We want Manny to bring his A-game.”

Rushton refused to divulge ­details of his 10-point plan for Pacquiao yesterday but he did predict the fight would end in a knockout, most likely in the later rounds.

While Pacquiao has gone eight years without knocking out an opponent, Horn has shown a clinical ability to end fights early over the course of his early career.

Of his 17 fights, 11 have ended early. His past three stoppages have been among his more impressive — a sixth-round knockout of Ali Funeka, a ninth round defeat of German Rico Mueller and a seventh round stoppage of Randall Bailey after picking himself up off the canvas.

He now has Pacquiao in his sights, with a win potentially opening the door to mega-fights across the globe

“I think there is about an 80 per cent chance his fight will end in a KO and I would suggest that it would happen late in the fight, probably not earlier in the fight,” Rushton said. “I think you are going to see a real war and I believe it is going to get tough at the end. I know in this fight that their spirits will be tested.

“I know this will be a much better fight than we have seen against (Floyd) Mayweather, even (Jessie) Vargas and (Timothy) Bradley.

“I have a 10-point plan. Jeff is the only person who has that 10-point plan. You follow that plan I have sent to you confidentially and we win the fight.”

Horn will head into the fight as a huge underdog but he has allowed himself to ponder what the future holds if he topples Pacquiao.

“I have dared to dream, that’s for sure,” he said.

“It is something I have had to do for a long time now. I have definitely been dreaming about that belt being put around my waist. I have trained the hardest I have for this fight.”