Jeff Fenech believes Jeff Horn's blockbuster against Manny Pacquiao can help restore legitimacy in Australian boxing after Anthony Mundine and Danny Green's "clowny" sideshow earlier this year.
Three-time world champion Fenech reckons the July 2 fight will be the biggest ever seen on Australian shores - even bigger than his own rematch with Azumah Nelson in front of nearly 40,000 people at Melbourne's Princes Park in 1992.
And much bigger than the controversial second clash between an ageing Mundine and Green back in February, which Fenech slammed as a "farce."
"It's the biggest fight in Australian history," Fenech said on Friday.
"Bigger than Fenech-Nelson, bigger than Green-Mundine, all those clowny fights.
"The difference is this kid's fought the best to get here.
"He's taken no shortcuts and it's an amazing opportunity early (in his career) but his trainers and the promoters wouldn't have put him there if they didn't think he could win."
Fenech has tipped unbeaten welterweight Horn, 29, to spring a major upset over Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion and Filipino boxing legend who hasn't stopped an opponent since 2009.
Horn is expected to carry a 7kg advantage into the ring at Suncorp Stadium, but has to drop 4kg to make the welterweight limit of 66.7kg.
"He's bigger, stronger, younger, he can punch, and he wants it more than Manny Pacquiao," he said.
"Anyone who thinks Manny's hungry, of course - $8 million or $10 million is going to be great to go and help his people back at home.
"But you lose your hunger when you have success for so long and this kid's very, very hungry. That's going to be the difference.
"He's going to make a lot of people eat humble pie."
Pacquiao is due to arrive in Brisbane on Saturday night on a private flight from the Phillipines, with nearly 200 support staff and fans onboard.
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