MANILA, Philippines – Australian boxer Jeff Horn may be little known outside of his home country, and is a relative newbie to the sport with only 16 fights to his name.

Yet Horn is not lacking in confidence as he gears up for a potential bout against Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

Horn's promoter is working with Top Rank to secure the fight for April 23 in the 50,000-seater stadium, according to The Courier Mail, in a bout that will be a "dream come true" for the 28-year-old boxer.

"It's a fight I can definitely win," said Horn, who has a 16-0-1 win-loss-draw record, with 11 wins coming by knockout.

"Manny is a lot shorter than me and I fight well against guys who are shorter than me and who are coming forward," he added.

Horn is also counting on his youth to neutralize Pacquiao's edge in experience. The "Pacman" has been in boxing for over two decades, and is the only fighter in history to win world championships in eight different weight classes. While Horn only has 16 fights, the 38-year-old Pacquiao has already fought 67 times.

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"He's got the experience," Horn conceded. "But I think he's slipped a bit. He's still got very good movement and skills, but he has dropped form just slightly, and that means a lot at the top level."

Like many young fighters, Horn looks up to Pacquiao and considers him an inspiration, but the Australian is also determined to dethrone the "Pacman." He believes that Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum shares his vision.

"Bob Arum seems to want the fight with me and Pacquiao now, before Pacquiao retires," said Horn. "I think he sees it as a changing of the guard."

A report by Boxing Scene has quoted Arum as saying that they are "very excited about this fight."

"Jeff Horn is the kind of young man who really enhances any sport," Arum said. "He's well spoken, looks good, comes from a good family, and being a former school teacher, is a well-educated young man."

"He's a real asset to the sport, and a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn is something that is great for boxing," he added. "Jeff is a very good fighter. I don't know if he beats Manny Pacquiao, but he'll give him a tremendous fight."

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