Pacquiao camp rubbishes Horn KO warning

Manny Pacquiao's trainer has ridiculed talk that Jeff Horn can avoid becoming the Filipino great's first knockout victim in eight years.

Manny Pacquiao's camp has laughed off talk Jeff Horn will avoid a stoppage defeat because of the way he rode out a flush hit from the 'KO King' Randall Bailey last year.

The Filipino legend is heavily favoured to retain his WBO welterweight championship against the inexperienced Horn in Sunday's 'Battle of Brisbane' at Suncorp Stadium.

His long-time trainer Freddie Roach has predicted an early knockout victory but Horn's mentor, Glenn Rushton, just can't see it happening.

Even if the 38-year-old lands a clean shot on Horn, Rushton reckons he'll get straight back up - just like he did against American Bailey in April 2016.

Bailey, who was also 38 at the time, floored Horn in the third round of their bout last year but it barely seemed to bother the former schoolteacher, who recorded a technical knockout victory four rounds later.

Rushton said the same thing will happen if Pacquiao connects with Horn's "granite" jaw.

"It just galvanises him. All it does with Jeff is it makes him more determined," Rushton told AAP.

"That's one of his strengths. Most fighters, when they get hit good, it derails them. Not Jeff.

"He gets up and he won't show it, he'll be like a machine, like a cyborg."

Pacquiao hasn't knocked out an opponent since Miguel Cotto in 2009.

Asked if he thinks Pacquiao can end that drought against Horn, Rushton said: "In a word, no."

"The only punch Jeff's really got to be careful of Manny's is that left hand.

"I don't think Manny can knock Jeff out with anything else. Even that, I doubt it.

"I've never seen him hurt."

Roach, who has trained 49 world champions, dismissed Rushton's warning.

"Who the f*** is Randall Bailey?" he told AAP.

"I've heard of Randall Bailey, but not in like 10 years.

"He might be the best guy he's fought but they're not going to scare us with that."


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Source: AAP


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