Shock as Aussie boxing champion Jeff Horn is knocked out by underdog Michael Zerafa

Shock as Aussie boxing champion Jeff Horn is knocked out by underdog Michael Zerafa in the Battle of Bendigo

Jeff Horn’s shot at a middleweight world boxing title in December appears to have been wrecked after he was outboxed and stopped in the ninth round by by Victorian Michael Zerafa in Bendigo.

Horn was dropped in the second and ninth rounds and a barrage of shots following the latter knockdown prompted the referee to halt the bout at Bendigo Stadium on Saturday night.

Zerafa (27-3, 15 KOs) utilised his jab superbly and moved well, rarely allowing Horn to get inside and pressure him, earning himself a regional title.

Jeff Horn lands a punch to Michael Zerafa during the Australian Middleweight bout

Michael Zerafa celebrates defeating Jeff Horn during the Australian Middleweight bout

Michael Zerafa celebrates defeating Jeff Horn during the Australian Middleweight bout

At the time of the stoppage, Zerafa was ahead by three on two judges cards and seven on the third.

‘I’m not surprised,’ Zerafa said.

It was Horn’s first loss to an Australian professional.

‘Im a bit shattered … I just felt really sluggish,’ Horn said.

Horn (19-2-1, 13 KOs) started to assert himself in the third, landing his first significant shots, but was also cut over his left eye following a head clash.

Horn got tagged with some more rights in the fourth and Zerarfa was popping his left jab into the Queenslander’s face.

Horn worked his way back in the fifth and started the sixth well but the Victorian came back strongly near the end of the latter round.

Zerafa landed some more re big rights in the eighth and by the end of that round he was showboating to the crowd. 

Horn (19-2-1, 13 KOs) started to assert himself in the third, landing his first significant shots, but was also cut over his left eye following a head clash

Horn (19-2-1, 13 KOs) started to assert himself in the third, landing his first significant shots, but was also cut over his left eye following a head clash

Zerafa landed some more re big rights in the eighth and by the end of that round he was showboating to the crowd

Zerafa landed some more re big rights in the eighth and by the end of that round he was showboating to the crowd

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk