Lucas Browne makes history with tenth round knockout in Grozny

 
IT was dramatic. It was was action packed. It was spectacular.

 
Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne overcame longs odds and every conceivable disadvantage to dethrone reigning WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev at the Colosseum Sport Hall in Grozny.

 
Browne, 36, has always had the natural ability to render opponents unconscious, this hasn’t changed. But it was the Sydneysider’s remarkable footwork and unexpected head movement that puzzled most, including Chagaev.

 
Fighting for the first time under the tutelage of respected trainer Rodney Williams, Browne (now 24-0, 21 KOs) looked nothing like the fighter that laboured to a ninth round stoppage over Julius Long last August.

 
For all his improvements, Browne was seconds away from disaster in a catastrophic sixth round.

 
Chagaev (now 34-3-1, 21 KOs) had the Australian on the verge of his first career defeat after flooring Browne with a looping overhand left. An extended round didn’t help the challengers cause, who barely survived the onslaught.

 
With the tide against him, Browne turned proceedings in the tenth round, landing a short right-hand counter almost immediately after a Chagaev jab. The champion hit the canvas with little under a minute remaining.

 
Browne followed up with almost twenty unanswered blows before Stanley Christodoulou waved it off.

 
And just like that, the one-time Sydney bouncer with no amateur experience became heavyweight champion.

 
“Lucas fought his heart out and proved he is a worthy world champion,” said Hatton Promotions figurehead Philippe Fondu, who was in Browne’s corner. “This win is not only huge for Australia, it’s huge around the world.”

 
Fondu’s sentiments were echoed by Browne’s long-time manager Matt Clark, who was ecstatic with the result.

 
“Lucas has made history being the first Australian ever to win the world heavyweight title,” said Clark.

 
“The entire team is ecstatic and I’m sure it will sink in over the next few days.”

 
With the dust still settling on the historic result, little has been made in terms of Browne’s next move. It appears more than likely that the Australian will next defend against mandatory challenger Fres Oquendo.

 
For Browne’s promoter Ricky Hatton, the result earned the Englishman his first world champion as a promoter.

 
“I’m proud of Lucas what a performance by the big man,” said the clearly proud promoter.

 
“The fight was a war and he deserves all the credit. He’s made history now and that’s something nobody can ever take away.”

 
 
Photo: Provided