Browne wants Leapai next after Bahoeli bruising

 
LUCAS Browne has made history and now he is after a clash with fellow Aussie Alex Leapai.

 
Browne recovered a from a third round head clash to record an entertaining fifth round stoppage of Eric Bahoeli and become the first Australia to win the Commonwealth heavyweight title in 122 years. At the same time, Leapai was defeated over five rounds in his world title showdown in Germany against Wladimir Klitschko.

 
Speaking straight after his win, Browne said a fight with Leapai is definitely one he wants.

 
“I’m number one [in Australia] terms of the rankings but he’s got a good record and he’s got a great following and it’s something the fans want to see,” he said. “It’s something I want to get involved in.”

 
Browne ha already flown back to Australia where he will rest for two weeks before starting back into training. He said it feels great to claim the Commonwealth strap and admitted he didn’t know how bad the cut, sustained over his left eye thanks to an accidental head-butt in the third round, was.

 
“While I was in the fight no, because my corner was lying to me, saying it wasn’t very bad at all,” he said. “But after the fight they told me the truth.”

 
Reflecting on his performance, Browne described the fifth round TKO as a learning experience.

 
“There was no doubt he’s got power,” he continued. “Just the fact I was planning to leave it for the later rounds and just sort of take my time with it all, but due to the cut I had to speed it a little bit which I don’t like doing but I had to.”

 
“We got the win, nothing really ever goes to plan, but we got the win and all that matters.”

 
 
Photo: Damian Brierty/Visual Delight
Words: Johnny Davidson
Follow John on Twitter @johnnyddavidson