Jeff Horn's first test as the WBO welterweight champion was a success and did it without the need of a controversial decision from the judges.
In a rare weekday event, Horn defeated Gary Corcoran in Horn's native country of Australia on a special edition of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN. The fight headlined the card, the second straight time Horn main evented a fight card on ESPN, but this time, Horn scored the win via 11th round TKO.
Horn fought aggressively early in the fight, but slowed down about halfway through the fight, even admitting in the post-fight interview that he didn't think he was at his best in this fight. Horn got the win thanks to him getting his second wind and overpowering Corcoran in the ninth and tenth round before Corcoran's trainer threw in the towel during the 11th round.
"I felt my timing was a bit off but I got him in the end," Horn said. "The whole fight I felt I was a little bit off tonight. I knew he was coming here prepared. They were talking a smart game... they definitely pushed me in there."
With the win, Horn's next fight looks to be against former undisputed junior welterweight world champion Terence Crawford, who is also signed to Top Rank. Crawford vacated the four unified titles at 140 pounds and was immediately named the mandatory challenger to the WBO welterweight title. Horn won the title earlier this year by beating Manny Pacquiao in a controversial fight earlier this year to capture his first world title.
