By Edward Chaykovsky

According to undefeated welterweight contender Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum is pushing for the Manny Pacquiao fight to happen sooner than later - because the veteran promotes views the contest as a "changing of the guard."

There are ongoing negotiations to stage Pacquiao vs. Horn on April 23 [April 22 in the United States], from Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. There are other venues in the running, but Horn is hoping that it lands in Suncorp.

“I would love to fight here at Suncorp in my own city and I know the crowd support would lift me. The roar of the crowd would be fantastic – very motivating," Horn told Courier Mail.

Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, is trying to finalize the fight with Dean Lonergan of Duco Events. Last month, Arum and Lonergan reached an agreement to co-promote Horn.

Lonergan will be in Los Angeles on Tuesday to sit down with Arum, as they attempt to wrap things up for the April fight.

Initially, the plan was to have Horn fight Jessie Vargas or Timothy Bradley - and upon winning he would land a Pacquiao fight in the fall. That plan appears to have changed.

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

Arum was ringside last month in Auckland, when Horn stopped former champion Ali Funeka.

Horn is not taking Pacquiao lightly, stating that the Filipino star and IBF champion Kell Brook are the two most dangerous fighters at welterweight.

“Pacquiao is a machine with what he’s done – coming up from (light-flyweight 48kg) to be a world champ at 70kg and all the divisions in between. He’s a credit to his country and I’d say people who come to the fight would be coming to see him more than me. He’s a huge drawcard and he’s been a super champion for a long time," Horn said.