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Robert Whittaker Would Fight Ex-Rugby League Player Paul Gallen But 'Only If The Money's Right'

Robert Whittaker Would Fight Ex-Rugby League Player Paul Gallen But 'Only If The Money's Right'

Gallen called out the former UFC middleweight champion late last year.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Robert Whittaker is arguably the biggest name in Australian combat sports right now.

But when you possess the sort of status he does, it'll only be a matter of time before people from other sporting codes start calling you out left, right and centre.

And, well, that's exactly what has happened.

One of those people who seems desperately keen on going toe-to-toe with Whittaker is Paul Gallen.

Paul Gallen.
PA

The former NRL star, who is set to lock horns with former world champion boxer Lucas Browne, hasn't been shy in letting his feelings be known about 'Bobby Knuckles'.

But now the former UFC middleweight champion has hit back and he seems more than happy step inside the ring to face Gallen - but on one condition.

"It's funny because a lot of people bring up Gallen and me potentially fighting him," Whittaker said at a sparring session with Australian boxing sensation Tim Tszyu.

"I'm already in the fight game. It's not like I need to drag my feet to do it.

"If the money's right, I'll do it. If it's not, I'll just keep doing my day job, which is fighting.

"We couldn't get things organised fast enough before I took a fight with the UFC this time, so maybe opportunities will present themselves afterwards, but we'll have to wait and see."

Robert Whittaker.
Instagram/@robwhittakermma

Whittaker doesn't seem fazed in the slightest by Gallen's trash talk.

The former Cronulla Sharks and New South Wales Blues captain labelled Whittaker a "condescending p***k" during his post-fight interview after he defeated fellow UFC great Mark Hunt back in December.

"Someone asked if he'd fight me and he (Whittaker) said, 'Yeah, I'd fight him but he wouldn't fight me' and he laughed, like in a way that annoyed me," Gallen said at the time.

"I felt, 'stuff you, you condescending prick, I'll fight ya.'

"I'm here mate, I'm happy to meet you in here, but stop pricing yourself out of it.

"I've got respect for Rob - I know him reasonably well. But I'm just going to beat him.

"I'll beat him like I beat Mark (Hunt), I'm going to train hard, prepare for it, have a game plan, get in there and smash him."

Well, now it seems Gallen has his answer.

If his latest response is anything to go by, Whittaker seems more than willing to lace up the 12 ounce gloves and go to war with him.

But this isn't the first time Whittaker has expressed interest in having an all-Aussie boxing bout against Gallen some time in the near future.

"I would love to fight him in 2021," Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia a few weeks ago.

Paul Gallen and Lucas Browne.
Twitter/@ben_damon

"I find it very funny because he said 'stop pricing yourself out.' I am not pricing myself out, I already fight for a living so the numbers have to work - that's what I do for a living - I'm not doing it as just some hobby.

"So if the numbers are right, I'm happy to take that fight.

"Obviously my mind is set on the fight with (Paulo) Costa at the moment but after the fight if our timelines are well and the money is right then yes I'm happy to take it to him."

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@robwhittakermma

Topics: Aussie, Robert Whittaker, Paul Gallen, Boxing, Rugby League, nrl, UFC, Australia, MMA