UFC star Conor McGregor is a potential left-field opponent for WBO welterweight world champion Jeff Horn, if the Australian wins his first title defence against Britain’s Gary Corcoran.

Horn, who won the title off Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao back in July, will make a voluntary defence against WBO inter-continental champion Corcoran (17-1, seven KOs), that organisation’s 10th ranked contender.

“He [Corcoran] is fit, he’s young, and he’s going to be a hungry lion,” Horn’s trainer and manager Glenn Rushton told AAP.

The bout will take place on 13 December at the Brisbane Convention Centre. It will be the first leg of a two-fight deal with Brisbane City Council and Queensland government, with Pacquiao and unified super lightweight world champion Terrence Crawford two of the top targets.

However, McGregor, who lost to the undefeated Floyd Mayweather in his first boxing bout back in August, is also on the Horn camp’s radar.

“It’s come out a little bit out of let field, but who knows, it’s possible,” Rushton said. “If the opportunity presents itself, we would certainly consider doing that fight and show the world that we can do a better job than Mayweather.

“There’s no way Jeff is going to stand there and be pummelled for the first two or three rounds (like Mayweather) I can assure you.”

Rushton would prefer any fight with McGregor to be a voluntary world title defence for Horn, but the Irishman doesn’t have a top 15 ranking that he needs for that to happen. He would also be amenable to a non-title fight with the outspoken McGregor.

Rushton is still hopeful Pacquiao will agree to a rematch.

“I spoke with Danny Leigh from the WBO last night and he was still fairly optimistic that Manny Pacquiao would come down here next April and fight Jeff Horn in the rematch,” Rushton said.