Jeff Horn gets revenge on Michael Zerafa in Brisbane

For he (20-2-1) has dragged his career from the ashes to lay claim to another of Australian boxing's greatest moments following his remarkable majority decision win over Michael Zerafa (27-4) on Wednesday night.

Because the former world champion was out on his feet, his hopes of returning to the summit seemingly hanging by a thread, when he was being battered in the ninth round.

The same round in which he had been stopped by Zerafa in August. The same round Terence Crawford took his world title. The same round that saw him mauled by Manny Pacquiao.

Zerafa is adamant the fight should have been stopped, so dire was Horn's predicament. But referee John Cauchi's controversial decision to halt the action to tend to a cut on the challenger's left eyebrow seemingly gave him a moment to recover.

Then things changed with one right hand. Zerafa hit the canvas, stumbled back to his feet and was floored again in the dying stages of the round.

Horn had controlled most of the fight since the moment he launched an overhand right in the opening exchange, and managed to secure a majority decision (94-94, 98-90, 97-92) at the Brisbane Exhibition and Entertainment Centre on Wednesday night.

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There are few examples of a man coming back from being stopped in devastating fashion to win an immediate rematch.

Horn has now done just that to secure two regional titles despite a ninth round onslaught which would have reignited questions about his future in the sport. Strange what one punch can do.

"The Hornet's back," Horn said, though he would later concede "I hate that ninth round."

"It meant everything. The way Michael was talking about me, he was disrespecting me so much with what I have done.

"My career so far has been absolutely massive and he was talking about it like I had done absolutely nothing and beaten absolute nobodies.

"I was like 'mate, I've faced a world champion, I beat an absolute champion in Manny Pacquiao, I beat [Anthony] Mundine who was the face of Australian boxing for a long time'.

"I just want some respect from the guy."

Seemingly gone are the questions about Horn's desire. Alive are thoughts of a trilogy fight - though it is one the Horn camp is unlikely to entertain - and hype about a potential domestic match-up with Tim Tszyu.

Horn won the bout dishing out shots from gloves bearing Zerafa's name in a bizarre subplot.

Trainer Glenn Rushton preferred the Rival branded gloves Zerafa was wearing more so than Horn's Everlast gloves, adamant the opponent's boasted more shock power. So they wore identical pairs.

It mattered little as Horn jabbed his way to a lead on the scorecards. Yet the factor hovering over the ring was Zerafa's ability to knock his opposite man to the canvas heading into the ninth round.

The Pretty Boy knew he needed a stoppage - and it seemed as though he was on the road towards getting one.

"One of our cornermen was very close to [throwing in the towel], but again I said 'not yet'," Rushton said.

"I know how fit Jeff is, I know how tough he is. It's a line ball decision but I didn't feel the time was quite there.

"I just assessed it based on every single thing I know about Jeff, that's all the history we share, that's every round he has done in his training program, every punch he has taken.

"We saw Jeff in a heartbeat turn that around. The next thing we know, it's Michael on the canvas. I was looking over at their corner seeing if they were going to throw the towel in after he was knocked down for the second time.

"They were thinking of throwing the towel in."

It was clear heading into the 10^th and final round - Zerafa needed to stop Horn. He would wobble the former school teacher late but neither man had enough left in the tank to end it.

Yet controversy and boxing go hand in hand - and this battle may not be over.

Zerafa's camp is considering lodging a protest to have the bout overturned to a no contest following the referee's decision to call time so Horn's cut could be aided in the ninth.

"You, me, everyone in this room knows it should have been stopped in the ninth round," Zerafa said.

"It is what it is. I'm not going to sit here and do what he did, and say I had pizza and stuff. I felt good. It is what it is.

"The whole ninth round, he didn't throw a punch. It was just me all over him. Unfortunately the referee didn't think the same so it didn't go my way.

"Everyone in this room knows that should have been stopped, especially after the last fight. Again, the ref thought something different and he calls the shots. I can't say nothing, I don't have the power.

"Hundred per cent, there definitely should be a third fight. That's not in my power. We're one and one, let's settle it."