Horn v Whittaker was set to be Australia’s McGregor v Mayweather

Jeff Horn’s promoter was angling for a super-fight with UFC star Robert Whittaker before the shock loss to Michael Zerafa.

Robert Whittaker’s management were interested in a fight against Jeff Horn

Jeff Horn’s promoter, Dean Lonergan, was angling for a super fight with UFC champion Robert Whittaker before the Queenslander’s shock loss to Michael Zerafa.

While much has been made of Zerafa being forced to forgo a big payday after Horn enacted a rematch clause in their contract, the former WBO welterweight champion also paid a high price.

Horn would have been in line for a world title fight had he beaten Zerafa. Beyond that, Lonergan had held tentative talks with the Whittaker camp over a bout between two of the country’s best-known fighters.

Those plans went up in smoke when both suffered defeats — Horn lost to Zerafa in Bendigo in devastating fashion and Whittaker lost his world title when stopped by NZ-based Israel Adesanya in October.

“Going back six months ago I opened up discussions with Robert Whittaker’s management and had some loose talks around Robert Whittaker versus Jeff Horn because Jeff at that stage was moving up to middleweight,” Lonergan said.

“When I mentioned to Whittaker’s management the size of the money that was made by Michael and Horn … they were keen to have a chat.

“Things died away with both Jeff and Whittaker losing … However, I like their management and it was also on the condition that Dana White and the UFC would allow it to happen.

“In boxing, the protagonists get what they’re worth and in the UFC they get the crumbs Dana decides to throw on the table.”

Robert Whittaker is hit by Israel Adesanya during UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium in October

Horn will attempt to resurrect his career on Wednesday night, the long-range goal to put himself back in the world title picture.

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There is every chance that should he avenge his loss to Zerafa, he will move back down to super welterweight and look for a world title fight in that division. A fight against Tim Tszyu looms large. Beyond that, the middleweight division is loaded, the most prominent name among the many superstars, Canelo Alvarez.

A big-money cross-combat sport fight against Whittaker could also come back on the table, providing Australian fans with their own version of the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor super fight.