Jeff Horn and Randall Bailey promise violence

 
YOU won’t find many similarities between Australia’s Jeff Horn and his American counterpart Randall Bailey.

 
But if there is one thing that the two fighters share, it is their tendency to create violent finishes. Bailey, now 41, captured his first world title after just nineteens fights, a similar path to which Horn is also looking to tread.

 
The 28-year-old Horn is well-mannered and humbly spoken, which came to light in his evaluation of Bailey.

 
“At this point in my career, Randall Bailey is my biggest test,” admitted Horn to Aus-Boxing.

 
“He is a former world champion and I have fought none of those yet,”

 
“I think his strengths are definitely his power and his eye for gaps in defence. I think Bailey’s weakness would be his work rate as well as his waiting style, which doesn’t work well against a high intensity fighter like myself.”

 
For Horn (13-0-1, 8 KOs) the ten round unified regional title fight at the Brisbane Convention Centre has been a long time coming. After three years away fighting across the Tasman, the Queenslander is happy to be home.

 
“It’s been a couple of years since fighting back in Australia,” he continued. “It will be amazing to come home and feel and see the support of close family, friends, sponsors and fans,”

 
“I feel it could boost me to another level with a loud home crowd behind me.”

 
While the former Olympian shied away from a prediction, he spoke confidently about his preparation.

 
“I have worked with a few different guys,” explained Horn. “It’s hard to find an exact style to mimic Bailey, but we have worked on the speed, strength, power and defence to combat a veteran like Bailey.”

 
Unlike his opponent, Bailey (46-8, 39 KOs) hasn’t been blessed with an abundance of time. The Miami-resident knows the final curtain call is near and he is approaching this fight with a do-or-die attitude.

 
“I know Jeff is coming to fight,” added Bailey. “He is very tough and a come forward type of fighter,”

 
“I will look for my spots in the fight and I plan to exploit them,”

 
Bailey will enter tonight’s fight as a heavy underdog, a role he was grown increasingly familiar with.

 
“I never pay attention to the odds, I was an underdog going into the Mike Jones fight and you saw how that ended. I’ve been here for a couple of days – the people are friendly – and I’m loving it,”

 
“I’m here trying to get in for this final run of my career,” concluded Bailey.

 
“I’m trying to earn another shot at the title and a win over Jeff Horn will put me in a great position.”

 
 
Photo: Provided