BRISBANE: Jeff Horn’s reward for a successful first title defense since a contentious win over Manny Pacquiao could be a potential bout with Terence Crawford.

A failure could send him back into boxing obscurity.

Horn wants to use his WBO welterweight title defense against Gary Corcoran on Wednesday to dispel any notion that he got a hometown decision against Pacquiao in Brisbane last July. If he gets his way, it could set him up for a big 2018.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum attended Tuesday’s weigh-in and said a win here “will lead to massive fights coming next year.”

“I think Pacquiao is going to return to the ring. Terence Crawford will be the mandatory for this fight,” Arum said. “Going to have a tremendous year in the welterweight division and these two participants ... will be giving it their all to see who will go ahead as part of these major programs that will take place next year.”

Fury cleared to fight

Britain’s former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury is free to resume his boxing career after a compromise on his positive test for the banned steroid nandrolone was found with UK Anti-Doping, it was announced on Tuesday.

“In recognition of the respective counter-arguments and the risks inherent in the dispute resolution process, each side has accepted a compromise of its position,” a statement released by UKAD read.

Agence France-Presse