CORCORAN SAYS HORN REALLY BEAT PACQUIAO, VOWS TO DEFEAT HORN
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 Oct 2017
Gary Corcoran, Jeff Horn's next opponent, thinks the new Australian world titlist boxer did enough to beat Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao to get the WBO welterweight belt. The venue and the date of his fight with Horn has been confirmed to be in Brisbane on December 13. But Corcoran has promised to score an upset win and abort Horn's plans for a rematch with the eight-division world champion. Horn's team also confirmed that Brisbane had officially secured the rights to host Horn-Pacquiao 2.
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Corcoran, the WBO No. 10 contender, however favored Horn as the unanimous winner over Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium last July. "It was a good fight, I don't think Pacquiao did enough," Corcoran said. "He did more running than anything in the fight, so fair play to Jeff, he won." Corcoran's team was not happy of Lonergan's statement of the Pacquiao rematch. "I think it is a mistake to plan ahead. I will show him on the night," he said.
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Corcoran's trainer Peter Stanley was more frank in his comments. "We will have to play the villain here. You've made all these lovely plans but we will come and upset them," he said. "Be careful what you wish for. You want a fight, we will give you a fight." Horn admitted he was flattered with his Pacquiao upset win. The boxer was regarded as a national sports hero in Australia. "It's become a blur," he said. "But I am always fighting for my family and future, I am very hungry to keep winning."
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Pacquiao withdrew from a rematch which was supposed to be scheduled in November, as he reasoned out conflicts with his duties as senator. Pacquiao also told Bob Arum that he would never return to Australia for a rematch with Horn apparently due to alleged hometown decision. But as Arum repeatedly said the contract agreement gave Brisbane the first option to secure the rights to a rematch. Besides, no other host put up as much amount as what Brisbane did.
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Lonergan confirmed that if Pacquiao finally will agree to a rematch with Horn, it could only take place in Brisbane. "The only problem we do have is our good friend Mr. Pacquiao who is never as easy we would like him to be," Lonergan said in a press conference. "We will work with him for the next few months to get that fight down here." Pacquiao remains silent if still he intents to continue with the Horn rematch. But most likely he will fight another foe at a different venue or retire permanently.
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News Corp Australia reported that Horn has signed a two-fight deal with the State Government and Brisbane City Council. The fight will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre. According to Top Rank, which has the options on who he his next opponent will be, the next fight for the Aussie world champ would probably be in March or April. It's either a rematch with Pacquiao or a title defense against the BWAA pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford.
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Horn has some good comments for his British opponent. ?Corcoran is 26, so he?s three years younger than me. He?s very fit, strong and hungry,?? Horn said. ?He?s a dangerous guy. I know what it?s like to be a determined underdog just like he is going into this fight. This is his golden opportunity to do what I did against Pacquiao but there are millions of dollars on offer for me with big fights in 2018 so I can?t let this guy come to my home town and wreck all my good work.??
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Dean Lonergan hit WBC, WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman. Lonergan was irked after reading some of the recent statements that were made by Thurman who lambasted Horn that he was a non-factor in the welterweight division. ?Unification doesn?t happen except for right here in the United States. Ain?t no one worrying about Jeff Horn. That?s real talk,? Thurman said. The fourth welterweight belt which is of the IBF, is the now with the undefeated Errol Spence.
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Thurman became a unified champion of the WBA and WBC earlier this year, with a twelve round split decision over Danny Garcia. Thurman hurt Garcia in the early rounds and used his speed and ability in the later rounds to unify the 147-pound world titles in a battle of unbeaten stars. But Thurman?s circling away from Garcia late in the fight caused the split decision. He was injured in that bout and spent most of this year resting. He is planning to return to the ring in the first half of 2018.
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Lonergan bombarded back Thurman saying it is he who is currently irrelevant in the division and openly challenges him to come to Australia for a unification bout with Horn, vowing that Thurman will get sent packing his bags in defeat in the same manner that Pacquiao did. ?Keith Thurman right now is an irrelevance,? Lonergan said. ?If at any stage Thurman wants to come to Brisbane to try and unify the titles, he will get the same warm welcome and outcome that was served up to our good friend Mr. Pacquiao."
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Lonergan was in the offensive protecting his Australian world champion whom he described as open to all comers. ?The Hornet is the world?s strongest welterweight and is open to any and all challenges. Should Keith Thurman want to make the mistake of getting into a fight he won?t win and get the thrashing he ... deserves. He should man up and get his promoters to call me, rather than talk tough from 9000 miles away," Lonergan concluded.
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Three games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade admitted he is still finding for his role with his new team after the Cavs' 114-93 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday. "I'm trying to find it, man," Wade said after scoring five points on 2-for-8 shooting against the Magic. "It's very different, different than I've ever played. Just trying to find my way, as we go on, see how I can be best for this team. Everything's happened so fast. This has been a long, a long week."
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Wade and the Cavs fell behind by as many as 37 points to Orlando, which was missing starters Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon, dropping their record to 2-1. Wade is averaging 5.7 points with field goal of 28% and 25% from 3-point area and 3.3 assists per game. He has scored in single digits all three games he has played, something he did only six times in 60 games with the Chicago Bulls last season when he finished with averages of 18.3 points, 43.1% shooting, 31% on 3 pts. and 3.8 assists per game.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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