By Luke Voogt
Geelong former champion boxer Mick O’Malley met hero Manny Pacquiao Thursday night, ahead of the Filipino legend’s fight with Australian Jeff Horn.
“He seemed like quite a genuine guy to be honest,” he told The Indy.
“What he’s been able to accomplish is amazing – he’s just a phenomenal athlete and phenomenal boxer.”
The Commonwealth champion spoke to Pacquiao and Horn, as the two met in Melbourne ahead of the “biggest fight in Australian history”.
“Pacquiao really seemed passionate about the sport and delivering a good fight,” O’Malley said.
“He was taking the fight seriously – the reason he chose Jeff Horn is he thought it was going to be an action-packed fight for the fans.”
O’Malley was hard-pressed to pick a winner for 2 July’s “Battle of Brisbane”.
“My head says Pacquiao and my heart says Horn,” he said. “A lot of people say it’s going to be whitewash.”
“I just hope everyone in Australia gets behind Jeff Horn – he’s got a bigger chance than most people think.”
But O’Malley did have one tip for the bout between the “hard-punching” boxers:
“It’s just a matter of who knocks out who. It’s hard to see it going the distance.”
The two boxers showed “extreme respect” for each other during the event, O’Malley said.
“They’re two true gentleman of the sport,” he said.
“(Horn is) a credit to the sport to be honest.”
O’Malley said Pacquiao’s younger opponent had the “focus and drive” to beat the only eight-division world champion in history.
“There’s absolutely no way Jeff Horn is going to underestimate Manny, but there is the possibility Pacquiao could underestimate Horn.”
