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SPORTS Friday 8 June 2018
Horn travels from Australia to defend title against Crawford

By TIM DAHLBERG America anyway and have Horn (18-0-1, 12 knockouts)
AP Boxing Writer a fight, so why not now?" has fought once since
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Terence One reason would be that beating Pacquiao,
Crawford doesn't think Horn is risking his unbeaten stopping Gary Corcoran in
moving up in weight will be record against a fighter Brisbane in December to
an issue. who has won titles in keep his title.
Jeff Horn doesn't think two weight divisions and Arum said he tried to
fighting thousands of beaten everyone in front get Pacquiao to fight a
miles away from his native of him. Crawford is a 7-1 rematch with Horn but
Australia matters much, favorite in the scheduled couldn't get him to commit.
either. 12-round fight, which will Pacquiao will be his own
The two unbeaten fighters be for a version of the promoter when he meets
meet Saturday night for 147-pound title that Horn Lucas Matthysse on July
Horn's welterweight title in a won against Pacquiao in 15 in Malaysia for another
fight that offers an intriguing Australia last July. version of the welterweight
matchup of brawler versus Crawford (32-0, 23 crown.
boxer in a division that is knockouts) isn't terribly Arum has both Crawford
suddenly getting a lot of concerned about the and Vasyl Lomachenko
attention in boxing. challenge ahead. under his promotion, and
The fight is significant for "He's nothing that I haven't both figure to be attractions
one other thing — it marks faced before in the ring," for the new ESPN streaming
the first attempt to get Crawford said. "We have app.
boxing fans to buy ESPN's to focus on him coming in "Terence Crawford in
new $4.99 a month app with his head and using his my mind is a superstar in
so they can watch the elbows. Other than that, it's boxing," Arum said. "Every
bout from the MGM Grand just another fight." challenge and obstacle
Garden. The two fighters were to that Terence has faced he
"It's the future, get used to have met April 14, but has overcome. He's one of
it," promoter Bob Arum said. Crawford injured a hand in the throwback fighters to In this July 2, 2017, file photo, Jeff Horn, of Australia, celebrates
"Jeff Horn and Terence training and the fight was the '80s. I really compare after beating Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, in a WBO
Crawford will go down in postponed. Now it's been him to the great Sugar Ray World Welterweight title fight in Brisbane, Australia.
history for the fight that almost a year since he's Leonard, he's that good."q Associated Press
pioneered this changeover been in the ring, and this
in direction to consumer time it will be at 147 pounds
sports entertainment." instead of 140.
Horn became a star of But he's a master of the craft
sorts thanks to his win last of boxing and can hit a bit,
year over Manny Pacquiao too. The Nebraska native is
before a packed crowd supremely confident in his
in an outdoor stadium in abilities, and believes he
Brisbane. Not only did Horn deserves to be a superstar
pull off an upset — and in the sport.
highly disputed — win, "I don't feel like the layoff
but he did it in prime time will be a big factor. I feel
on ESPN in the U.S. on a like I'm sharp and ready to
Saturday night as part of a go," Crawford said. "I'm not
new deal between Arum's just lying around and sitting
Top Rank Promotions and on the couch. I should be
the cable sports giant. good."
That was heralded as a way
to bring boxing back to the
masses, and it worked. The
audience peaked at 4.4
million viewers, the most for
boxing on cable TV in more
than a decade.
But the business model
has shifted, with ESPN is
looking for top fights to help
convince people to sign up
for the new app. So Horn
agreed to a good payday
to fight away from the
comfort of home against
a fighter some consider
the top pound-for-pound
boxer in the game.
"It wasn't that hard," Horn
said. "The money was right
and it was the right time
for this fight. We were
always thinking we'd go to