Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Welterweight contender Jeff Horn may be fighting on home soil when he takes on Senator Manny Pacquiao on July 2 at the Suncorp Stadium, but the Pacquiao camp believes the crowd will be on the Filipino’s side.
There could be 55,000 people that fill up the Suncorp Stadium when the two fighters meet in Brisbane, which would easily eclipse the current Australian boxing crowd attendance record of 35,000 set in 1992 for the Jeff Fenech and Azumah Nelson bout in Melbourne.
Previously, Pacquiao drew in a crowd of 50,994 at the Cowboys Stadium for his fight against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in 2010.
But even with the prospect of a partisan crowd heckling Pacquiao, his long-time trainer Freddie Roach is confident that there would be more cheers for his ward.
“I’ll bet you that 90 percent of the crowd will be there for Pacquiao,” Roach told CNN Philippines. “Australia is not a big fight town, but Manny Pacquiao is a big name there and he has never been there before.”
“They’re gonna love to see him, and they’re going to come out,” Roach added.
Roach may have a point. Though Horn has the advantage in height, reach, and youth, the Filipino boxer-turned legislator has the clear advantage in terms of star power.
Pacquiao has cut his teeth battling big names such as Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, and infamously, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Horn’s resume doesn’t come close to the star studded list of opponents the Filipino has faced.
Though admittedly, the Australian could make an ironically almost Pacquiao like leap into stardom with a shock result in his favor.
But for now, there is no question that the tickets will be sold in Australia will be because the eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao is coming to town for a fight.
Whether or not the crowd that turns up will be one that is hungry for an upset, or one that is in it to see complete domination by Pacquiao is debatable.
Though the Filipino slugger is actually hoping for a raucous crowd in Horn’s favor.
“Iba ako e, masgusto ko na maraming fans yung kalaban ko para ganado ako lalo,” Pacquiao said with a sheepish grin.
[Translation: “I’m different, I prefer it with a lot of fans against me so that I am more motivated.”]
We will find out if Pacquiao gets his wish when he stakes his welterweight crown against Jeff Horn on July 2 in Brisbane.
