If the face-off was any guide, fight fans could be in for a wild ride on Saturday night as Jeff Horn defends his welterweight title against American's star Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
After months of back-and-forth between their camps, Horn and Crawford finally met in the flesh on Thursday at the official press conference. Crawford and his camp did their best to intimidate but Horn stood tall during an intense staredown that was finally halted after more than a minute.
Face off: Terence Crawford and Jeff Horn.
Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Duco
Crawford mouthed the words 'are you ready?', with Horn replying in the affirmative. While most Americans seemingly expected Horn to arrive in Sin City and lay down his WBO belt. Instead, he grows more defiant by the day as his odds tighten for Saturday's bout at the famous MGM Grand.
"He was just saying to me are you ready? I said back to him Im ready," Horn said afterwards.
"You just look them in the eyes and let them know you arent scared, that youre ready to fight, that they cant break me."
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Horn has done so much media and promotion for the fight that he's started to lose his voice, while Crawford gave 40-second soundbites to media earlier in the day during a hit-and-run interview session.
All the while, members of his team stood outside the door and threw lewd jokes and insults at Australian reporters as they came and left. It was as amusing as ebola and the precise reason why Crawford's crew won't win any popularity contests, even among their American cohort.
On stage, Horn gave as good as he got. Dressed in a sharp three-piece suit, he offered restrained praise for Crawford and said he was there to prove once again that matchmakers and pundits had vastly underestimated his abilities in the ring.
"I cant wait to get in there and prove the doubters wrong. Ive heard it all before. Ive heard Im a chump, Ive heard Im the fraud of the welterweight division. Im just there to prove everyone wrong," Horn said.
Crawford doesn't make jokes in public. Hey rarely smiles and directed much of his talk straight at Horn, looking him in the eyes and warning him that he was going to get hurt on the weekend.
He said Horn would be quick to feel his power as he stepped up a division to welterweight, although the Australian clearly looked the bigger man when they stood side-by-side.
"I think hell be surprised. Hes viewing me as a small welterweight and come fight night, hes going to see otherwise. I just feel like thats good for him. Hes coming in hungry and determined and that makes for a good fight. Im going to be prepared… and he might get hurt," Crawford said.
"Were going to see come Saturday night who is going to get rocked… and dropped.
"Pressure breaks pipes. A lot of people came into the ring with me with a strong will and left with their tail tucked in. Im willing to go in there and do the same with him.
"This is what everybody has been waiting for… Terence Crawford moving up to 147 (pounds). Im looking forward to putting on a great show."
Crawford's trainer Brian McIntyre said Horn was going to be a man in the wrong place at the wrong time as his fighter moved up to take all the belts in the welterweight division, just as he did at junior welterweight.
"Were going to stop him and the reason I say that is because Ive got all the confidence in the world in Terence. Were ready, I promise you that," McIntyre said.
"Ive really only got one word to say – its called the takeover. And Jeff just happens to be there to be the first victim."
Horn said he was relaxed about his size ahead of Friday's weigh-in and wouldn't have to undergo a draining shred to make the welterweight limit.
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