HORN LOOKING FOR A MONUMENTAL UPSET AGAINST PACQUIAO
By Eddie Alinea of Spin.ph
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 01 May 2017
On February 11, 1990, Buster Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, knocked out heavily favored Mike Tyson in the 10th round of their world heavyweight fight in Tokyo to crown himself the new champion.
Twenty six years earlier in 1964, Cassius Clay, (later became Muhammad Ali), an 8-1 underdog, KOed Sonny Liston in a monumental upset noted more for its historical significance than anything else.
Those were only two of shocking reversals, not only in the sport of sweet science but in other sports a well, that left fans thrilled and excited and will inspire and motivate the unheralded upstarts to hope to duplicate.
Australian no. 2 contender Jeff Horn is no exception. The former schoolteacher, in fact, has been very vocal since his title encounter with titlist Manny Pacquiao was announced, to exploit the historical facts to the hilt and beat the Filipino World Boxing Organization welterweight titleholder in their July 2 date and emerge the new 147-pound champ.
To accomplish his goal, the 16-0-1 win-loss-draw record holder with 11 KOs knows too well that he needs more than luck because his 22-year veteran opponent also own's a piece of history in his 59-6-2 with 38 stoppage impressive resume making Pacquiao an overwhelming favorite.
Paquiao also has to overcome an underdog tag. On the way to becoming the only human to win 11 world titles in eight weight divisions, the two-time Philippine Congressman now Senator started his rise to international prominence by crowning himself the International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight titlist by stopping Lehlo Ledwaba in the sixth round while fighting as a substitute and, therefore, an underdog. That was in 2001.
The 2000 ?Fighter of the Decade,? was, likewise, at the losing end of the odds when he overwhelmed Marco Antonio Barrera for he Ring Magazine featherweight plum, Juan Manuel Marquez for the World Boxing Council super-featherweight crown and David Diaz for the WBC lightweight diadem.
Ditto when he fought his first 147-pound bout against Olympian and legendary Mexican-American Oscar DeLa Hoya who was heavily favored when they met on December 8, 2008 only to quit and retire unable to answer the bell signaling the start of the 8th of the 12-round classic.
Having been a victim himself of upset losses, Pacquiao, also popularly known as ?Pacman,? the ?Pacific Storm? and ?Mexicutioner,? among others, said he?s aware of those chances happening in his coming fight.
?Na-realize ko na ?yan noon pang pumayag ako na labanan si Jeff Horn,? Pacquiao said. ?Oo nga?t marami akong tinalo bilang underdog, may mga laban din naman ako na natalo as a favourite.?
The three-time WBO weltrerweight belt owner was referring to hs first defeat in a young career in 1998, a KO at that, dealt him by Rustico Torrecampo and, three years later, by Thai Medgoen Lukchaopormasak that cost him the WBC flyweight title he won earlier from another, Thai Chatsai Sasakul.
?Those twin losses hurt, especially yung kay Medgoen kasi world champion na ako. But those defeats, at the same time, taught me lessons,? he reminisced. ?After that, pinangako ko na di na ako dapat matalo, especially sa isang baguhan.?
The Filipino ring great suffered three more setbacks later in his career ? to Erik Morales in 2005, Tim Bradley and Marquez, both in 2012. He more than avenged his loss to Morales by knocking him out twice. Same with Bradley, who he outpointed two times later. That loss to Marquez, via KO, merely brought their four-fight record to 2-1-1 win-loss-draw in his favour.
?Sabi ninyo sa media, I am already in the twilight of my career. Tanggap ko yun. Kaya nga hindi ako dapat matalo sa labang ito,? he stressed. ?Paghaahandaan ko ang labang ito nang higit sa paghahandang ginawa ko sa mga nakaraang laban ko.?
?I ony have a few more fights left in my career at gaya nang dati, wala akong maipangangako kundi ang gagawin ko ang lahat para pasayahin ang fans. Kaya hindi ako papayag na matalo ako dito sa labang ito a sa mga darating pa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea of Spin.ph.
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