Jeff Horn on brink of $18 million three-fight windfall, but he must beat Michael Zerafa

What price success? Just ask Queensland boxer Jeff Horn — because a win over Victoria’s Michael Zerafa carries a massive $18 million carrot and talks of one of Australia’s biggest three-fight deals.

Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa. Picture: Annette Dew

Defeating Michael Zerafa will set up one of the most lucrative deals in Australian sporting history for Jeff Horn, whose camp is secretly negotiating a three-fight deal against Tim Tszyu worth $18 million.

Live stream Riakporhe v Massey as they battle it out for the British Cruiserweight Title with KAYO on your TV, Mobile, Tablet or Laptop. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

WATCH JEFF HORN VS MICHAEL ZERAFA 2 ONLY ON MAIN EVENT

Details of the extraordinary trilogy proposal have been uncovered by The Daily Telegraph in Brisbane this week, as Horn prepares to face Zerafa in a rematch on Wednesday night.

If Horn pulls off an upset victory, he will fight Tszyu in March next year in a bout already estimated to be worth $6 million.

Sources close to the negotiations say there is an expectation of $4 million from pay-per-view revenue, $1.3 million from the gate in either Sydney or Brisbane, and $700,000 in sponsorship for the showdown.

The Horn and Tszyu camps expect to generate similar figures for the second and third fights.

It comes after talks fell over between Horn’s promoter Dean Lonergan and the management of UFC star Robert Whittaker for a boxing match between the pair earlier this year.

Jeff Horn and Michael Zerafa will take on each other for the second time on Wednesday night.

Lonergan discussed the bold plan to stage the bout before Horn lost to Zerafa in Bendigo in August, and Whittaker lost his UFC middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in October.

That fight is less appealing and lucrative now, and Lonergan had not been able to obtain any assurances from UFC boss Dana White that would have allowed Whittaker to take part in a boxing match, as he’d given Conor McGregor to fight Floyd Mayweather.

Around that same time, Tszyu emerged as a genuine force in Australian boxing and the main rival to Horn.

Zerafa’s stunning 9th round stoppage of Horn on August 31 spoiled the chance of an immediate fight against Tszyu.

But if Horn can avenge that defeat at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, he will be hurtling towards the $6 million bout against the undefeated Tszyu.

Horn and Zerafa come face to face. Picture: Getty Images

If Zerafa wins, he is set to fight Tszyu in March, although that match-up is likely to generate between $3-4 million because the Melbourne fighter has not built the same profile as Horn.

It’s understood the Horn and Tszyu camps held preliminary discussions months ago about a fight, and quickly decided to enter talks for a multi-fight deal, learning lessons from Anthony Mundine and Danny Green.

Tim Tszyu (right) during his comprehensive win over Jack Brubaker this month.

The Mundine-Green rivalry was the biggest in Australian boxing, and generated the most money for any fight in history in 2006.

Yet the pair failed to capitalise on their grudge and waited 11 years before their rematch, when both fighters were well past their prime.

The proposed Horn-Tszyu trilogy would happen within the next three years to ensure both men are still in peak condition and the bouts are competitive.

Horn weighs in at Southbank in Brisbane. Picture: AAP

However, if Horn loses again, his chances of being part of the $18 million trilogy will nosedive.

“This is everything, this is a must-win fight for my career,” Horn said

“Michael’s in my way, he’s taken all my titles and I want them back.”

Zerafa promised to knock out Horn in his hometown and end his career.

“As soon as the first right hand lands, the game changes,” Zerafa said.

“I don’t think he wants to be in there copping big right hands and left hooks all night.

“Hopefully his team is switched on in the night and doesn’t let it go like it did last time. Jeff’s health is important.”

MORE NEWS

FIGHT NIGHT: EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT HORN-ZERAFA 2

FIERY EXCHANGE: BOILING ZERAFA PROMISES HELL FOR HORN

Originally published as Jeff Horn on brink of $18 million three-fight windfall, but he must beat Michael Zerafa