Long-time mentor departs Team Horn

AFTER six successful years, strength and conditioning guru Dundee Kim has parted ways with Jeff Horn.

The Brisbane-based fitness expert confirmed his shock exit on Thursday, shortly after meeting with the former WBO welterweight champion and his manager Glenn Rushton.

“I am extremely proud of what Jeff Horn has achieved and have had an unforgettable experience being part of the team,” said Kim in a statement released on his Instagram account.

“It is heart breaking and very sad, but from 2020 I have decided to resign as Jeff Horn’s strength, conditioning, and pad coach. Over the last six years, I’ve had an amazing journey with Jeff.

“From 2014 to 2019, I’ve been involved in 16 fights out of 20 fights. During his 16 matches, Jeff Horn has only lost two fights. The biggest was his WBO world title defence against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.”

A former sponsor of Horn, the relocated South Korean, who is a former amateur titleholder, entered Horn’s camp in an official capacity shortly after Horn penned a promotional deal with Dean Lonergan in 2014.

Along the way, Horn captured a slew of regional honours, before upsetting future Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao in one of Australia’s great sporting upsets in 2017, a memory that Kim recalls fondly.

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I extremely proud of what Jeff Horn has achieved and have had an unforgettable experience being part of the team. It is heart breaking and very sad but from 2020 I have decided to resign as Jeffhorn's strength, Conditioning, and pad coach. Over the last six years, I’ve had an amazing journey with team Jeff Horn. From 2014 to 2019, I've been involved in 16 fights out of 20 fights. During his 16 matches, Jeff Horn has only lost 2 fights. The biggest was his WBO World Title defence against Terrance Crawford in Las Vegas. Also the most memorable match was Jeff horn defeated 8 times World Chapmpion Manny Pacquiao. I was in the middle of boxing ring in a crowd of 52,000 at Surcorp in Brisbane, Australia, 04/July/ 2017. And I checked Manny Pacqiao hand wrap and glove at dressing room before the fight started it. This is a memory that gave me tremendous experience. Jeff Horn lost to Michael Zerafa in August 2019 at Bendigo but Jeff Horn bounced back and claimed a dramatic victory against Michael in December 2019. Thank you to Jeff for trusting and following me. A big thank you to Glenn Rushton and corner man, Ben Horn, Adam Copland. Special thanks cut man Stephen Edwards and Tyrone Tongia I would also like to thank sponsors Steve Scanlan, Dan Burley and Daniel Hannay for helping Jeff Horn early his career. When Jeff had no sponsors I was very proud to be able to persuade these two to get behind him. Huge thank you for my gym clients for attending the fund raiser event in 2014 to get Jeff to New Zealand. Huge thank you so much my trainers for welcoming Jeff every time come to our gym Huge thank you to Grantlee Kieza all your amazing article about me. You help so much for being a top performer in promoting Australian boxing. Huge thanks also to main event announcer Ben Damon and many media officials. Finally thank you so much for my wife. She helped me silently whatever I did. And thank you to Jeff Horn and his parents, I wish you many good things in the future and thank you for the journey. #Journey #jeffhorn #life #experience #fighter

A post shared by Dundee Kim (@dundee_boxing_fitness) on Jan 7, 2020 at 7:16pm PST

“The most memorable match was when Jeff Horn defeated eight-time world champion Manny Pacquiao,” he explained.

“I was in the middle of the boxing ring in a crowd of 52,000 at Suncorp in Brisbane… and I checked Manny Pacquiao’s hand wraps and gloves at dressing room before the fight started. This is a memory that gave me tremendous experience.

“Jeff lost to Michael Zerafa in August at Bendigo, but bounced back and claimed a dramatic victory against Michael in December.”

Despite not confirming the official reason for his departure, Kim leaves the working relationship on amicable terms with Horn, who he wished well ahead of a potential blockbuster clash with Tim Tszyu.

“Thank you to Jeff for trusting and following me,” he concluded.

“I would also like to thank sponsors Steve Scanlan, Dan Burley and Daniel Hannay for helping Jeff Horn early in his career. When Jeff had no sponsors I was very proud to be able to persuade these two to get behind him.

“Thank you to Jeff Horn and his parents. I wish you many good things in the future and thank you for the journey.”

Photo: Provided