Meet the girl melting boxer Jeff Horn's heart

She arrived just days before the new year but already little Isabelle Kate Horn is winning over her dad, boxing champ Jeff Horn.

Photo: Tertius Pickard

The little girl, welcomed on December 30 by Horn and wife Jo, arrived at 7.40pm, weighing 3.58kg.

“Both mum and Isabelle are doing well,” the couple's birth announcement said. 

As these pictures taken by photographer Tertius Pickard show, the hard man is showing his softer side already - taking to fatherhood like a pro.

Photo: Tertius Pickard

It's certainly a different side of the boxing champ, who recently defended his title against UK fighter Gary Corcoran with an 11th round stoppage. 

Jo, then 38-weeks pregnant, watched the bout ringside, with the family so concerned the excitement would bring on labour they had a nurse and ambulance on stand by. Horn told the Courier Mail that he sensed little Isabelle cheering him on during the fight.

Photo: Tertius Pickard

“Winning a world title was a tremendous achievement but Isabelle’s arrival is the greatest gift of all and has officially confirmed 2017 as the best year of our lives,” the family said in their statement.

“Thanks and happy new year to all — Jeff, Joanna and Isabelle Horn.”

Photo: Tertius Pickard

Horn had recently revealed that he was slightly nervous about fatherhood. “I’m well experienced when it comes to fighting now but fatherhood is a whole new experience for me. I just want what any father wants and that’s a healthy baby," he said.