Jeff Horn's fight against Anthony Mundine will be beamed live into the US, adding more pressure on the former welterweight champion to see off the veteran in clinical style as he chases another world title shot.
The Friday night fight (around 10pm AEDT on November 30) may be at an unfriendly hour for a US audience, where it is likely to be streamed on the ESPN+ service just past 4am in Las Vegas, the same city where he lost his WBO crown to Terence Crawford.
But it will give Horn's long list of American detractors more fuel for their fires if he labours to get past the 43-year-old, who will likely be in his final fight and will start as the rank outsider against the younger, better-credentialed boxer.
In the spotlight: Horn needs to make short work of Anthony Mundine to spark a fresh world title drive.Credit:Chris Hyde/Getty images
Mundine may not be much of a drawcard in the US but Horn, or at least the bouts in which he has featured, has been good business for ESPN. His fight against Manny Pacquiao from Suncorp Stadium did excellent numbers, while his defeat at the hands of Crawford was one of the first shows on the ESPN+ streaming service.
Final confirmation of the telecast is still forthcoming but it is understood the rubber stamp will be applied over the coming days. The bout will be a pay-per-view in Australia on Main Event.
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Mundine has talked an excellent game, as he tends to do, ahead of the bout but the reality is Horn should be far too good for the former rugby league star, whose last appearance was against journeyman Tommy Browne in Sydney at the start of the year.
Likely swansong: Anthony Mundine fights Tommy Browne in Sydney in January.Credit:AAP
Horn, on the other hand, was last mixing it with the man many believe to be the best fighter in the game in Crawford. He lost through nine one-sided rounds but the form difference is beyond galactic.
At 30 and with relatively few professional fights (18-1-1), Horn has another five years left in the business and wants to position himself for another tilt at a legitimate world title belt.
That may be back at welterweight or more likely a division up after he strugged to cut weight for his past two bouts. Against Crawford, he initially weighed in heavy before getting over the line.
The Mundine bout will be at a 71kg catchweight and Horn can fight with a bigger physique than he ever has before. How that translates to his footwork, power and movement may determine his future path.
No matter what division he ends up in, he knows he has to beat Mundine with consummate ease to get a rails run for a new title bid. There's a strong chance that would be back in the US, meaning the need to impress on an American viewing platform is stronger than ever.
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