Crawford won't underestimate Horn: Rushton

Jeff Horn has returned to training ahead of his mooted April 14 fight against unbeaten American superstar Terence Crawford.

Jeff Horn during a training session in Brisbane.

Jeff Horn has begun preparations ahead of his bout against American Terence Crawford (file). (AAP)

Glenn Rushton doesn't expect Terence Crawford's team will make the same mistake a litany of other boxers have when they've stepped into the ring with Jeff Horn: underestimating him.

Rushton, Horn's trainer, believes his counterpart Brian McIntyre will have learned from the errors of Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao and won't leave the door ajar for an upset by taking him lightly in any way.

Horn returned to training on Monday ahead of what looms as by far the biggest test of his career - his mooted WBO welterweight title defence against Crawford on April 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The 29-year-old on Monday blew out some Christmas cobwebs on the heavy bags at Rushton's gym in the southern suburbs of Brisbane after a long holiday break and the birth of his first child, Isabelle.

"Everyone's got to go back to work and everyone knows how hard that can be," Horn told reporters.

Rushton said he was 80 per cent of the way through his analysis of Crawford, the unbeaten American superstar who was installed as Horn's mandatory challenger after unifying the entire junior welterweight division.

Crawford's speed, precision and technical ability is unlike anything Horn has faced before.

Most US-based experts are anticipating a full-blown bloodbath and a quick victory for the Omaha, Nebraska native, who has won by knockout in 23 of his 32 fights.

Horn admitted he will have to outbox Crawford - something nobody has ever done before - and use his size to his advantage to stand any chance.

Rushton said there is zero margin for error given the "analytical" nature of Crawford's corner - particularly McIntyre, who has been by his side since his amateur days.

"I deeply respect the Crawford team. Brian McIntyre his coach has been with him since he's a kid," Rushton said.

"I respect that, the fact they've built that bond over time.

"Knowing McIntyre and the way their team and the professionalism of the team, they saw what happened with Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao when they underestimated us.

"I do not believe that McIntyre will make the same mistake. I think he will be very well prepared."

Rushton is still awaiting final paperwork for the fight but does not forsee any last-minute hiccups.

"I wish it was signed today," he said.

"The sooner the better."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world