Jeff Horn admitted contemplating retirement before enacting a rematch clause with Zerafa

Brisbane fighter Jeff Horn has revealed he contemplated retirement before enacting a rematch clause which will see him take on Michael Zerafa.

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Former world boxing champion Jeff Horn admitted he contemplated retirement before enacting a rematch clause which will see him take on Michael Zerafa.

While the month and venue of the rematch was yet to be finalised, Horn and his promoter, Dean Lonergan, confirmed this morning the bout was on.

In August, Zerafa stopped Horn in round nine in a shock upset.

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“Retiring was definitely something I was considering,’’ Horn said.

“But I need to clean this slate.

“I thought to myself and imagined myself in five years time and thought I need to get this back. I can’t go out like this.’’

Jeff Horn speaks to the media today. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Horn said retrospectively he took his eye off the ball and became distracted by talk of a world title fight, rather than focusing on Zerafa who he stressed beat him fair and square on the night.

Horn’s trainer Glenn Rushton said the camp would do things differently this time but most important was that Horn was “fired up’’.

“It will be a completely different fight,” he said.

“We are on a very big mission. Game on. We are ready.’’

“As the Wiggles said ‘Wake up Jeff’. Well he is awake’’.

Horn said his family were inclined toward him not having the rematch, but “I needed to have this fight’’.

“It is not easy to decide to go back, especially against a guy who has stopped you in the last fight, but I feel like I can do a lot better the second time,’’ Horn said.

Trainer Glenn Rushton speaks to the media flanked by Jeff Horn and Dean Lonergan. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Horn dismissed talk from the Zerafa camp that, by sparking the rematch, Horn had blocked Zerafa’s immediate chance for a world title fight.

“His team had a lot to say. They are pretty harsh with their words.

“Look, it was in the contract. They knew this was going to happen and he will always get big opportunities if he beats me in the rematch.

“All he has to do is beat me twice. He has to beat the real me the second time around.’’

Horn said by calling him un-Australian, the Zerafa camp were motivating him.

“I am doing what is in my heart,’’ he said.

“I am doing this for me. I am not doing it for anyone else except myself this time.’’

Horn said ideally he would fight the bout as a super welterweight “but if he wants to push hard and fight middle weight, I can go that again’’.

Horn said he was “embassressed’’ against Zerafa earlier in the year and wanted to beat him - then aim for another world title fight.

He said he had no drama in returning to Ballarat to fight on Zerafa’s turf.