Arum forced to defend ahead of Horn fight

Top Rank boss Bob Arum has defended his actions in the build-up to Jeff Horn's world title fight, saying the Brisbane boxer has his full respect.

Jeff Horn.

Jeff Horn is in the final stages of a preparation for his World WBO welterweight fight. (AAP)

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has denied he is disrespecting Brisbane world champion Jeff Horn ahead of his title defence in Las Vegas.

Horn is in the final stages of preparation for his welterweight title defence against Terence Crawford at the MGM Grand on June 9.

The build up has been marred by a change of venue, date and even what kind of gloves his highly fancied American opponent will wear.

Much of the chopping and changing has come as a result of a minor hand injury sustained by Crawford, which was called out by Horn's promoter as fake and a convenient delay to drum up more interest in the fight.

Whether the undefeated Crawford will wear the controversial, less-padded horse hair gloves is also still unclear after varied reports came out of the southpaw's corner in the last fortnight.

However Top Rank boss Arum insisted Crawford's injury was legitimate and that the Horn camp had his full respect.

"Nobody is treating Horn with disrespect," he said.

"This would be a massive thing for Horn to beat Crawford and he would get all the accolades that come with it.

"I think the winner of this fight will be considered the big superstar of the welterweight division."

Forced to defend himself, Arum said two separate doctors had ordered Crawford to rest and that the gloves he has used across his 32-fight professional career have always been cleared by the relevant authorities.

Horn has flown Ray Robinson into camp this week, with the southpaw one of the few to beat Crawford as an amateur more than a decade ago.

News of that arrangement has filtered through to Crawford's camp, with trainer Brian McIntyre tweeting that Robinson won't "be able to help you, you still have time to back out of the fight".

Crawford is a heavy favourite to win but Arum, who lined up Horn's now famous Brisbane fight with Manny Pacquiao, said it was not that clear cut.

"When you look at these two fighters, if you talk about boxing skills, no question that those belong to Crawford," he said.

"But when you talk about size and strength and determination you have to give Horn a very, very good chance."

The fight will be shown in Australia as a pay-per-view event on Fox Sports on June 10, with Arum promising a "who's who" of celebrities ringside.

"It's going to be special," he said.


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Source: AAP



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