Jeff Fenech set to take training reigns for Lucas Browne

 
LEGENDARY three-division titleholder and Hall of Famer Jeff Fenech looks set to take on yet another prized pupil, this time in the form of the undefeated and reigning Commonwealth heavyweight champion Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne.

 
Browne, 35, an admittedly once self-trained fighter, made the move from Perth to Sydney earlier in the year in order to receive higher quality training while he makes his steady rise through the heavyweight division.

 
His journey reached new and unfamiliar heights in April when he lifted the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title in impressive fashion, stopping durable Canadian Eric Bahoeli in five pulsating rounds. With the win, Browne (now 20-0, 18 KOs) became the first Australian in over a century to hold the coveted Commonwealth heavyweight title.

 
“I’m thirty-five years old and I don’t have a long time to play around. I’ve got power, and with someone like Jeff to fine tune the basics, it’s all systems go.” said Browne in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing.

 
Despite being in an enviable position in the heavyweight division, which sees the Australian rated comfortably in three of the four major sanctioning bodies, Browne cites a need to still work full-time alongside his training as a major detractor towards his success.

 
“It feels the same to be honest, I’m still poor as fuck and I still need to prove myself to the world.” he explained.

 
With that said, Browne sees the opportunity to work with Fenech, a man who has guided some of the most illustrious careers in Australian boxing, including world champions Danny Green, Daniel Geale, Sakio Bika, Vic Darchinyan and Lovemore N’dou, not to mention the careers of Nedal Hussein, Hussein Hussein and Nader Hamdan as a major factor behind his reason to enlist Fenech’s services.

 
“The impact of the days at Team Fenech are still being felt in a big way,” Browne continued. “He knows his stuff and you cannot deny the man’s enthusiasm for the sport. It’s an awesome opportunity for me.”

 
“We spoke over Facebook and with me moving to Sydney, it all just worked well together,” added Browne. “I’m going to need Jeff’s help to progress as a boxer and be all I can be. He is my trainer, my inspiration and to be honest, a part of my future.”

 
Fenech, 50, was brief in his assessment of Browne, who has clearly impressed Fenech in the short time he has known the once touted ‘Marrackville Mauler’.

 
“Lucas has amazing power, a will to win and great skills,” Fenech said to Aus-Boxing earlier in the week. “The results at Team Fenech speak for themselves.”

 
“We had a dinner and the rest is history.”

 
 
Photo: Hatton Promotions/Getty Images