Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn officially confirmed for July 2 in Australia
By Peter Kahn
Manny Pacquiao will face Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia on July 2. Pacquiao’s Wolrd Boxing Organization welterweight title will be on the line.
Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn will meet on July 2 in Brisbane, Australia. The official announcement was made on Sunday by Horn’s promoter, Duco Events.
Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) is an 11-time world champion over eight weight divisions. The 38-year-old is now a senator in the Philippines. Pacquiao defeated Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision on November 5, 2016, to reclaim the World Boxing Organization title. This coming after a brief retirement in April 2016.
The 29-year-old Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), a school teacher, is the World Boxing Organization No. 2 contender. A former Olympian from the London Olympics, Horn almost had his career cut short after a freak injury in February 2016 during a sparring session. Horn suffered a fractured larynx while preparing for his bout against former two-time world champion Randall Bailey. Horn went on to defeat Bailey and accumulated two more wins in 2016. The July 2 bout against Pacquiao will be the first fight for Horn in 2017. In just over a year, Horn went from a potential career ending injury to the biggest fight of his life.
According to early reports out of New Zealand, tickets will be affordable for everyone. Fans can purchase tickets starting at $39 and more than 25,000 seats could be purchased for $100 per ticket.
The event to be hosted at Suncorp Stadium expects upwards of 55,000 fans according to a Queensland official. “After months of speculation, I am pleased to say we’re finally all in the ring for this fight to go ahead,” Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the “Battle of Brisbane” was expected to deliver a $15.8 million economic boost to the city. “At least a third to half of the audience was expected to come from interstate or overseas, said Jones. “This is exposure of our community that money can’t buy, The words Queensland and Brisbane will be on the lips of hundreds of millions of people around the world.”