Paul Gallen vs Robert Whittaker: UFC star offered boxing superfight
Not content with taking on one Australian mixed martial arts legend, Paul Gallen and his team now want a superfight with Australia’s first UFC champion - and a contract clause could make it a reality.
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Australian UFC star Robert Whittaker has been approached about making a shock switch to boxing, with a potential $1 million payday being discussed for a fight with Paul Gallen later this year.
News Corp can reveal Whittaker, 29, has been offered a blockbuster December showdown against Gallen, who is currently considering a bout agreement with former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt.
Should the NSW Origin great accept, and beat Hunt, promoter Matt Rose is then keen to catapult the retired rugby league star into what would easily be the toughest challenge of his career - a superfight with Australia’s first UFC champion.
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Like Hunt, Team Whittaker is requesting a $1 million payday.
However, the showdown would only make sense if Gallen, who is currently undefeated in all 10 professional appearances, first overcomes Hunt and his signature ‘walk off KO’.
Currently, the Hunt fight is slated for May 20 at Qudos Bank Arena.
Whittaker, meanwhile, has recently been sidelined from fighting by personal issues, but is now back in training with plans for an Octagon return sometime in August.
Back in October, the Sydneysider lost his UFC middleweight crown to breakout New Zealand star Israel Adesanya, with the Kiwi scoring a second round TKO in front of 57,000 fans.
Despite the loss, Whittaker not only remains the No.1 middleweight contender, but No.14 on the UFC pound for pound list.
Privately, the Aussie has spoken with his tight-knit team about fighting twice more this year, with UFC president Dana White hinting a title rematch with Adesanya could come by the end of the year.
Yet the idea of boxing Gallen in December for potentially more money has now been brought to the table by Rose.
While Whittaker fights at just 84kg, he is understood to be excited by the prospect of jumping up to heavyweight and challenging Gallen, who most recently weighed in for his bout with AFL great Barry Hall at 101.6kg.
Those close to the UFC star insist 12 weeks would be more than enough time for him to prepare for the switch under his striking coach Justin Fitzgerald, who was himself mentored by Australian Hall of Fame boxer Jeff Fenech.
It is understood the only sticking point is that Rose match, or better, the $1 million he regularly receives for a UFC fight.
While Whittaker was unavailable for comment last night, The Daily Telegraph understands his contract allows for competition in rival combat sports, but not rival MMA organisations.
Certainly, the Aussie fight star has looked to make similarly bold switches before.
Back in 2018, the then UFC middleweight champ was on the verge of competing for the Australian wrestling team at the Commonwealth Games in April.
However, UFC officials then announced the Aussie would be defending his title against Cuban Yoel Romero at UFC 225 in Chicago, only eight weeks later.
Should Whittaker be unfit to defend, they said, he would be stripped of the title.
Given the risk, he subsequently withdrew from the national team.
Earlier this week, it was revealed Hunt had signed off on the bout agreement to face Gallen and urged the former NRL star to do the same.
Originally published as Paul Gallen vs Robert Whittaker: UFC star offered boxing superfight