March 29, 2024

Former WBO Welterweight champ Jeff Horn is primed and ready for his fight with Michael Zerafa on August 31st in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

The war of words has been going on since the press conference between the pair with Zerafa questioning the skills and abilities of Horn and saying that he will knockout Horn, while Horn has taken a more reserved approach to the war of words for the “Battle of Bendigo”.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Horn said;

“The timing and power at this middleweight limit has been extraordinary. I really, really like sitting at this weight. I think I’ll do it beautifully again and be calm and happy going into the fight and ready for the storm,”

“I should fight better and harder for the whole fight (at middleweight). I normally have a bad round… round nine hasn’t been great. I have to push through that little lull in my fights, hopefully at the higher weight it won’t happen.”

Anthony Mundine has been the only person to fight Horn outside of the Welterweight division and Mundine only lasted 96 with Horn at the heavier weight.

Zerafa is no stranger to fighting ex-champions as he has been on the ring with former Welterweight champ Kell Brook and former middleweight champ Peter Quillin. Although unsuccessful both times Zerafa is hoping that third time is the charm with Horn.

Horn wants to use this fight to cement his place as number one contender for WBA (Regular) Middleweight Champ Ryoto Murata and have a large multi-million dollar payday later on in the year in Japan.

Accompanying this, Horn also wants to take back the ‘poster boy’ and number one boxer in Australia place which had been firmly challenged by second generation star Tim Tszyu. During Horn’s nine month in ring absence Tszyu has headlined two pay-per view main events and won both Australian and international titles.

Tszyu has been working his way to challenge Horn to bout and Horn has responded that he is “not interested” in fighting Tszyu at this time and Tszyu has “no claim” to the number Aussie fighter spot.

There is a lot on the line for both Horn and Zerafa in the Battle of Bendigo and all with be revealed next Saturday night.