AFTER the most savage sparring session of his life – that included low blows, head clashes and punches after the bell - Jeff Horn says he is ready for anything Manny Pacquiao throws at him at Suncorp Stadium on July 2.

Horn and Filipino-born Melbourne slugger Czar Amonsot went at it like fighting cocks for 12 torrid rounds on Wednesday with Amonsot’s veteran trainer Ray Giles saying that Horn’s timing is impeccable and that he will ``definitely’’ catch Pacquiao with his lightning right hand.

``Jeff is in great shape,’’ said Giles, a former professional sprinter, who has been involved in boxing since the days he helped the great Lionel Rose with roadwork 50 years ago.


``His timing is spot on and he will catch Manny. Jeff fires a very fast right hand lead out of the blue and that’s a perfect punch against a southpaw (left-hander) like Pacquiao.’’

Horn sparred at 1.30 - the time he is expected in the ring on July 2 - and he had a recording of crowd noises pumped through the speakers at his gym to simulate the sound of the 50,000 fans expected at Suncorp to see him challenge for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight title.

``I’ve tried to set up the mental imagery of what it will be like on the day of the fight and I picture myself winning,’’ he said.

After slugging it out with Amonsot for more than half an hour Horn said: ``That was hard work. The toughest spar I’ve had. We did 12 rounds on Monday but today was even more intense. Czar is a quality opponent.

I know I’ve got the fitness to keep punching hard into the later rounds and that I’ll have plenty left in the tank late in the fight but I want to land on Manny the first chance I get.

``I’ve heard that he isn’t training with anything like the intensity I’m showing in the gym and I really suspect that he thinks I’m going to be an easy fight for him. I’m training harder than ever and in the late rounds we’ll find out which of us has prepared the better.’’

Horn and Amonsot traded bombs throughout the 12 rounds and at one stage Horn was hit with a low blow. Several times Amonsot threw punches after the bell.


`It was rough but that’s what Pacquiao will bring. Czar showed me that I have to keep my hands up at all times and be prepared for anything.’’

Horn finished the 12-round sparring session and immediately did another 15 rounds of fitness work.

His trainer Glenn Rushton said he was pleased with Horn’s work but there was still room for improvement.

``It’s two weeks to fight time,’’ Rushton said, ``and we will refine a few things between then and now. But I think we are exactly where we need to be to cause a huge upset and bring the world title to Brisbane.’’

Horn will have just two more sparring sessions next week before tapering for the fight in the final week.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach is adamant that Pacquiao must knock out Horn and that he should then pursue a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. The 2015 fight which Mayweather won on points generated more than $A800 million ($A800 million) in revenue.

Pacquiao is a 'points puncher'.
Much like Cazalaghe (Wales) and even Australia's Daniel Geale.

Boxers like these don't have knock-out punches (naturally).
But they punch like machine-guns and can be way ahead on points within just a few rounds.
Opponents get flustered by their prolific work-rate and only have a knockout to win against them.

I remember watching Geale - superfit and furious with his fists (while I was getting hammered by retired Pro 'The Liberty Valance at the Old School Grange).

Horn will not win, unless Pacquiao has slowed down, or Horn power-punches the Pac-man into the corner and down a few times.
It could end up like Tszyu v Hatton, where Kostya called it quits in round 11 against the younger opponent ...due to feeling buggered, more than out-classed.

I see Mayweather has manipulated another opponent and already won the fight before it has begun.