Murata fight rejected by Horn

In a report from Stuff out in New Zeland, Former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn originally was very interested in a near $2 million offer to take on Japanese superstar Ryota Murata for a middleweight clash in Tokyo.

Plans for the bout fell apart after the scheduled date was pushed back.

Murata (14-2, 11 KOs), former WBA middleweight “regular” champion and a 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and, hasn’t been in action since losing by decision to Rob Brant back in October.

Horn (19-1-1, 13 KOs) last action was dropping Anthony Mundine in the first round in October.

Horn was set to square off with Murata back when it was scheduled for June 2. Once the date got rescheduled to July 12, Horn declined because his wife is scheduled to give birth to their second child around that time frame.

“My family has always come first. Jo really needs me to help her in the weeks after the birth and I want to be there too. To me that’s a lot more precious than money or winning a big fight,” Horn told Courier Mail.

Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan believes his fighter did the right thing.

“Bob Arum then graciously offered us the fight with Murata in Tokyo on June 2,” Lonergan said. “That date suited us but they pushed the fight out to July 12 and Jeff said that, with the baby coming, he wouldn’t take it no matter how much money was on the table.”

Following Brant’s win over Murata, there was heavy interest on both sides to make a defense against Horn. Lonergan made attempts to put that fight together, with an eye on staging the event in Australia, but they were unable to reach an agreement where it made financial sense for both sides.

According to Horn, he can still fight at the welterweight weight limit of 147, and was open to any in big fights at welterweight, 154 and at 160.