Aussie boxer Jeff Horn may have fought his last fight in the welterweight division.
Horn will match up against former IBO middleweight champion Anthony Mundine in Brisbane on Friday at a 71kg catchweight.
After struggling to make weight before his defeat to Terence Crawford in June, Horn has revelled in the preparation at a heavier mark, often boasting of enjoying chocolate and steak dinners, rather than desperately trying to shed kilograms.
Trainer Glenn Rushton says how his charge competes against Mundine will determine whether Horn attempts to regain his WBO welterweight title in a rematch against Crawford or plans future fights in higher divisions.
"Does he look more like a super-welter or middle, or does he still look more like he should be in welterweight?" Rushton told AAP.
"He can make welterweight. He fought all of his amateur career as a light-welterweight, which was 64 kilos.
"He can definitely do welter, and I really want Crawford as well and he's in welter."
If Rushton and Horn abandon plans for a Crawford rematch and keep him in a higher division, there's one fight the Brisbane-based trainer would relish for his protege.
"I'd love a fight with Canelo Alvarez - that would be an amazing fight," Rushton said.
The Mexican is the WBA super-middleweight champion, and boasts an imposing 50 win, one loss and two draw record, with 34 knockouts.
"The styles match up beautifully, the only thing is Alvarez has gone to super-middle. He fought Floyd Mayweather at welterweight, now he's jumped to super-middle, so who knows?
"Maybe we could get an agreement at light-middle for Alvarez to fight Horn, but we've got to come back first on Friday night and prove ourselves worthy of those challenges."
The Crawford defeat was Horn's first as a professional, but has given ammunition to those who feel the 30-year-old got lucky with his famous points decision over Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.
Rushton bristles at suggestions his fighter got a break with Pacquiao, but acknowledges how he bounces back from defeat against Mundine will be the key factor in how his career goes forward.
"I want Jeff to outbox him, I want Jeff to outfight him, I want Jeff to put him down," Rushton said. "I want Jeff to finish the fight by KO.
"If he achieves all of that, then it shows we're ready for another world title."
AAP
