Horn, Pacquiao could be really big

Jeff Horn has given boxing in this country its most significant injection since Anthony Mundine was in his prime.

A word of warning for those who dare to dream. Only three years ago, another Australian went toe-to-toe with a legend. That fighter was Alex Leapai and those of us who accompanied the Lionheart on his trip to Germany to tackle then-heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko know only too well how perilous it is to ­believe in fairytales. Leapai was another Cinderella story after landing a shot at the heavyweight crown. He jetted into Germany with a puncher’s chance. He held midnight training sessions ­designed to acclimatise to the ­ungodly fight time.

His entourage watched on as he flailed the mitts of trainer Noel Thornberry, every thud fuelling belief within his camp that one of the biggest upsets in the history of the heavyweight division was on the cards.

It was hard not to get swept up in the moment. Leapai was stepping into the ring with a giant in every sense of the word. All he needed to do was land one punch.

Reality set in once the bell sounded for the opening round. Leapai couldn’t get close to Klitschko. The Ukrainian picked him apart.

Leapai was eventually put away in the fifth round. It was as one-sided as a fight can be.

Leapai landed a sum total of 10 punches. He couldn’t lay a glove on Klitschko. The Australian walked away with enough money to buy his parents a house, but his career has never been the same.

The Obliteration in Oberhausen has resonated as we look towards tomorrow’s bout between Jeff Horn and Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium. Like Klitschko, Pacquiao is a living legend of the sport. Like Klitschko when he faced Leapai, Pacquiao is closer to the end of his career than the ­beginning.

Like Klitschko, there was a sense of vulnerability about Pacquiao’s grip on the title. Ultimately, it was Brit Tyson Fury who snatched the crown from Klitschko’s head. Leapai, meanwhile, has talked about a comeback to the sport as Horn readies himself for the biggest challenge of his career.

He is undefeated in 17 fights since turning professional after the London Olympics. Each fight has been more impressive than the last. He has risen from the canvas to finish opponents. His last fight against South African Ali Funeka was his most eye-catching yet, his performance good enough to ­capture the attention of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

Somehow, thanks largely to the sagacity of his own promoter Dean Lonergan, he has landed a fight against one of the best brawlers of the past 20 years. It’s a huge step-up in class for Horn. Pacquiao is 38 and hasn’t scored a knockout in nearly a decade, but his legendary trainer Freddie Roach has told anyone who will listen that the power and aggression are back.

The hope is that Horn can ­reinvigorate Australian boxing. Already, he has given the sport its most significant injection since Anthony Mundine was in his prime. Horn could yet leave ­Mundine in his wake. Mundine never fought before a crowd as big as the one that will attend Suncorp Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Ticket sales are expected to push beyond 50,000. Pay-per-view sales are tracking towards ­record numbers. Horn-Pacquiao is likely to attract more interest than the opening fight between Mundine and Danny Green. The fight will be beamed live into America to an audience measured in the millions.

Horn has the chance to ­dramatically change the landscape of the sport in this country. Boxing has been under threat from UFC not just in Australia, but across the globe. Sydneysider Robert Whittaker is due to fight for a slice of the UFC middleweight title next month yet his ­impending bout has paled in comparison to the attention Horn has garnered.

It could be just the tip of the iceberg. The welterweight division is overflowing with the potential for big-money bouts. A rematch with Pacquiao is written into the contract should Horn take the title.

If Horn wins and wins impressively, the door to America will be open. He will earn less than $1 million for this fight but future bouts will be measured in multiples of that amount.