Due to the magnitude of the event, Suncorp Stadium is increasing the audience capacity to 60,000 for the Battle of Brisbane fight between Queensland local Jeff Horn and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
The bout, scheduled on Sunday, 2 July 2017 will be a huge international event that will be aired live to 180 countries. Suncorp Stadium officials were initially hoping to see a crowd of up to 55,000, but it is looking to surpass the record audience of 58,912 people when the Broncos won the 1997 Super League at QEII Stadium.
Queensland tourism minister Kate Jones told Courier-Mail that “the huge national and international interest in the Battle of Brisbane means we had no other option but to expand capacity at Suncorp Stadium.”
Purpose-built seats will be provided for the additional tickets released. Almost 50,000 tickets have already been sold for the event.
Event Times
| Gates Open | 8:30 a.m |
| Bout A: | 9.10 a.m. |
| Bout B: | 9.40 a.m. |
| Bout C: | 10.10 a.m. |
| Bout 1: | 11.10 a.m. |
| Bout 2: | 12.00 p.m. |
| Bout 3: | 12.40 p.m. |
| Main Event: | 1.30 p.m. |
Battle of Surprises
Since the announcement of the fight, Jeff Horn, dubbed Brisbane’s Fighting Schoolteacher, has been catapulted to international stardom, with many in the western hemisphere wanting to know more about the fighter. And while the Pacman is still the overwhelming favourite to win, the element of surprise is on the side of Horn.
Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton told Fox Sports Australia that Pacquiao has not yet encountered a fighter like Horn. Rushton added that it would be difficult to fight someone like Horn because you would never know what’s coming at you.
“He can turn southpaw like Manny, he can hit you with right hand leads and he can move and fight from angles that Manny hasn’t encountered before,” Rushton said.
Rushton is counting on the “broken rhythm pressure” technique that he invented to demolish the current WBO welterweight champion.
Horn will come into the ring with a record of 16 wins, 0 loss and 1 draw, with 11 of his wins via knockout. While his record is impressive, it is dwarfed by Pacquiao’s record of 59 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws. Pacquiao won by 38 knockouts during his career.
The Filipino boxer’s trainer Freddie Roach is not underestimating Horn. “We can’t take Horn lightly. He’s got everything at stake here in the fight. A win for him would be tremendous for his career and we just can’t let that happen,” Roach told On the Ropes Boxing Radio.
Fight promoter Bob Arum said that fighting before a home crowd could give Horn the boost he will need. Arum told the Courier-Mail that “if his fight with Pacquiao was in Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York, I wouldn’t give him much of a chance because I think nerves would take over.”
“But the fact that Jeff is going to be fighting in front of so many of his countrymen will calm his nerves and I think he will give a great account of himself.”
Pacquiao is flying to Brisbane on Saturday, 24 June, with 200 of his family and friends.
Thousands of Filipinos and boxing fans from all over the globe are also expected to come to Brisbane to watch the title bout at the Suncorp Stadium.
