Jeff Horn confirms plans to fight on
LESS than a month removed from his defeat to Michael Zerafa, Jeff Horn has announced his plans to fight on.
The former welterweight titleholder fronted the media in Brisbane earlier today, confirming an inevitable decision to resume his decorated punch-for-pay career in the same training environment.
Flanked by long-time trainer Glenn Rushton, Horn (19-2-1, 13 KOs) revealed his independant thought process, citing the contrasting approach from his family.
“If Jo (wife) had her way there would be no more boxing. But this is my decision,” Horn told Fox Sports News.
“My mum and all my family say they’d be extremely happy and proud if I gave it away. They keep saying I don’t need to do it.
“I’ve already set up my family so it’s not about the money. I know how I want to finish and it wasn’t the way the fight ended against Zerafa.”
The 31-year-old, who is Australia’s best performed Olympian in two decades, enjoyed a fast rise in his professional career, reaching the pinnacle after 17 fights to dethrone Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane.
Since that glorious date, Horn admits that his desire to train had diminished, which was evident in his recent stoppage loss two divisions above at the hands of former Commonwealth titleholder Zerafa last month.
Despite the criticism surrounding Rushton, and his post-fight sledge of Horn’s lifestyle, the former schoolteacher will continue to compete out of the Stretton Boxing Club, the home of several world level operators, including the likes of Dennis Hogan.
“I was frustrated with Glenn for bringing that up,” he explained.
“It wasn’t something that should have been broadcast publicly straight after the fight. But I admit I let myself down. I wasn’t training as hard or I wasn’t as hungry as I was before the Pacquiao fight.”
Horn is yet to make a decision on his next fight alongside promoter Dean Lonergan, but has a pre-negotiated rematch clause, if he decides to face the Melbourne-based Zerafa again.
In the wake of his upset loss in Bendigo, a series of high-profile boxing identities have called for Rushton’s axing due to his unique training methods, including Hall of Famer and successful trainer Jeff Fenech.
“They’re seeing this guy who does padwork like nobody else in the world,” Fenech told the Main Event Boxing Podcast.
“I can’t even describe what they say when they see him train. I don’t know, I’m just brutally honest, it’s a joke. What he’s doing on the pads couldn’t happen in a fight in a million years.
“When you do padwork you’ve got to replicate a fighter. A fighter’s head is not twelve feet wide.”
Photo: Getty Images
