Festa: Pacquiao V Horn

Festa: Pacquiao V Horn

LIGHTNING right-hand leads and vicious body shots – that’s what Jeff Horn is practising for his world title fight with Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium on July 2.

Horn powered through a torrid 10-round sparring session with rugged Melbourne-based Filipino Czar Amonsot on Monday as part of a 25-round gym session inside the mansion of trainer Glenn Rushton.

Amonsot, 31, who hasn’t lost a fight in 10 years, said he was stunned by Horn’s speed of foot and hand.

Horn fights Pacquiao for the World Boxing Organisation welterweight (67kg) title in Australia’s biggest ever bout.

“Jeff is explosive,’’ said Amonsot, a veteran of 40 pro fights.

“His right-hand lead is fast and powerful. That’s a punch that could give Pacquiao a lot of trouble.’’

Amonsot’s trainer Ray Giles, 73, has been involved in boxing since the days he helped the great Lionel Rose with roadwork in the 1960s, and was impressed with Horn’s speed and movement, calling him “a real thinking fighter.’’

Horn said he had benefited from years of leg strengthening step-ups and skipping, something he believes will be crucial to making the Pacquiao bombs continually fall short of the target.

Horn’s form delighted his trainer on Monday.

“Jeff is on track,’’ Rushton said.

“He is where I need him to be with still room to lift the intensity and to refine a few strategies. “Pacquiao had better be ready for the fight of his life.’’

Not everyone is sold on Horn’s chances, though.

Australian lightweight George Kambosos has signed on as Pacquiao’s main sparring partner – part of a team of four – and after doing three hard rounds with the champ in Manila on Friday declared that: “Manny will knock Horn out within six rounds. Horn won’t last. He can’t get away from Manny’s shots.’’