Lucas Browne


Lucas Browne is an Australian professional boxer, former mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He held the WBA Heavyweight title in 2016 when he stopped Ruslan Chagaev in an upset victory and by doing so became the first heavyweight champion from Australia. In boxing, he held the Australian and Commonwealth heavyweight titles between 2012 and 2015. Browne was stripped of his world title two months later for failing a drug test. This ruling was then overturned in September 2016, clearing him of any wrongdoing. In November, Browne produced another positive drug test which he says was due to him buying a pre-workout supplement without taking the time to properly vet it for compatibility with the WBA's anti-doping regulations.

Professional boxing career

Early career

Browne turned professional on 20 March 2009 at the age of 30. He won his first contest by fourth round knockout. On 17 February 2012, Browne became the Australian heavyweight champion by knocking out Colin Wilson in three rounds.
On 28 April 2013, he defeated the future hall of famer and three-weight division world champion James Toney by twelve round unanimous decision with scores of 117–111, 119–109, and 120–108. Three months later, he stopped former NABF heavyweight champion Travis Walker in seven rounds. Walker dropped Browne in round 1. Although Walker appeared to clearly win round 7, his corner called the fight off before round 8 could get underway.
In November 2013, Browne scored a fifth round TKO of former European Union heavyweight champion Richard Towers. The fight was an eliminator for the Commonwealth heavyweight title, which at the time was held by David Price.

Regional success

On 26 April 2014, Browne fought Éric Martel-Bahoéli for the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title at the Ponds Forge Arena in Sheffield, England. Browne knocked down Martel-Bahoéli in round 2 but the fight continued. In round 3, following an accidental clash of heads, Browne was cut over the left eye. Two inspections were undertaken by the ringside doctor, who allowed the fight continue. Martel-Bahoéli was knocked down again in round 4 and the end came in round 5 when Browne connected with a right uppercut. Browne also claimed the WBC Eurasian Pacific Boxing Council heavyweight title.

Browne vs. Rudenko

Browne defended the WBC-EPBC title on 1 August 2014 against Andriy Rudenko at the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, England. Browne defeated Rudenko by a 12 round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title. The judges scored the fight 116–112, 115–113, and 117–112 all in favour of Browne.

Career from 2016–2017

Browne vs. Chagaev

On 14 November 2015, the WBA ordered Ruslan Chagaev to reach a deal to make a defence of his WBA title against Australian heavyweight contender Browne. The two sides had until 30 November to reach a deal. Chagaev's promoter Timur Dugazaev announced the fight would likely take place in Grozny in March 2016. In the January 2016, the fight was officially announced to take place on 5 March. Browne won the fight by stopping Chagaev in the tenth round. Browne landed nearly 20 unanswered punches, mostly right hands, before referee Stanley Christodoulou stopped the fight at 2 minutes, 27 seconds. Browne was knocked down in the sixth round and at the time of the knockout, behind on all judges scorecards, 81–88, 82–88, and 82–88. The fight was not without controversy, with a reported 59 seconds of erroneous time during rounds 6 and 7 of the bout.

Drug issues

Browne was later stripped of the title due to a failed drug test for the banned substance clenbuterol. Browne repeatedly maintained his innocence, however testing on the second sample for the drug proved positive.
On 2 November 2016, the WBA ordered Browne to fight American heavyweight veteran Shannon Briggs for the WBA regular title. The fight was ordered to take place before the end of 2016. Browne was originally due to fight Fres Oquendo, who hadn't fought since 2014, however that fight could not be made due to Oquendo recovering from an injury. The WBA ordered the winner of this bout to fight Oquendo in a mandatory defense within 120 days.
Reports indicated that after 8 months of being stripped of the WBA heavyweight title due to positive A and B samples for the banned substance clenbuterol, Browne has produced another positive drug test, this time for the banned substance ostarine.
On 18 May 2017, Browne's manager, Matt Clark announced that he would be making a return to the ring on 2 June 2017 at the Club Punchbowl in Sydney. On 26 May, his opponent was announced as journeyman Mathew Greer. In a scheduled six round fight, Browne dropped and stopped the over matched Greer in round 2. After the win, Browne set his sights on WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.

Career from 2018

Browne vs. Whyte

On 17 October 2017, it was reported that Browne would travel to Moscow, Russia, to fight unbeaten 30-year-old Sergei Kuzmin for the WBA Inter-Continental title on 27 November. Kuzmin, known for his amateur background where he beat the likes of Joe Joyce, Robert Cammarelle and Ivan Dychko. Browne backed out of the fight and was replaced by American boxer Amir Mansour. On 7 November, it was reported that Browne had signed a deal to challenge undefeated WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker. Locations discussed were Parker's home city of Auckland or Melbourne in Australia. Browne's promoter Matt Clark stated that Browne had signed the contract and was now waiting on Parker to sign the deal. At the time, Browne was not listed in the WBO's top 15 rankings, meaning he would need to fight for a WBO regional title to get ranked. On 11 January 2018, the fight between Browne and WBC Silver heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte was finally made, to take place at the O2 Arena in London on 24 March. In order to win Whyte's WBC Silver title, Browne vowed to get into immense physical condition, joining the weight loss challenge at F45 Kellyville Ridge, while also adding the burn machine to his strength and conditioning program.
Whyte hit Browne with a hard left hook to the head in round 6 to knock him down and out unconscious, winning the fight. There was no count made and the fight was waved off immediately with ringside doctors attending to Browne before giving him oxygen. The fight was officially stopped at 0:37 of the round. Browne’s face was cut and badly swollen from the clean shots landed from Whyte. Browne left himself open most of the time and tried switching stances after a few rounds. Browne suffered a cut over his left eye in round 3, which got worse with each round. Whyte then bloodied Browne’s nose in round 5. After the fight, Browne was stretchered to a nearby hospital for precaution and Whyte called out WBC champion Deontay Wilder for a fight in June 2018. Promoter Hearn said, "I hope the WBC make Dillian mandatory now, the fight is there for Deontay Wilder in June. We have to force the shot and after that performance, he deserves the shot." Hearn stated there could be a possibility that the WBC order a final eliminator between Whyte and Dominic Breazeale.

Back to winning ways

Browne returned to the ring on 28 September 2018 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Gold Coast and knocked out 41-year-old Julius Long for a second time in three years. A right hand to the chin knocked out Long. After the fight, Browne called out Dave Allen and Adam Kownacki. He was also called out by David Price in October.
Browne returned two months later on 24 November against journeyman Junior Pati at the Saint Johns Netball Centre in Auckland, New Zealand. The fight marked Browne's first time fighting in the country as a professional. Browne controlled the fight, eventually knocking Pati out in round 5 with a left hook followed by a right uppercut. Referee Lance Revill waved off the fight. Browne also claimed the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council silver title. After the fight, Browne published a short video on his Instagram account crediting his return to F45 at Kellyville Ridge and the addition of an intense swimming pool preparation as being the key contributors to his immense physical condition. .

Personal life

Browne has three children. Before becoming a professional boxer and mixed martial artist he was a nightclub bouncer in Kings Cross and a professional rugby league footballer for the Parramatta Eels under-18s in the S. G. Ball Cup. Browne also made it to the top 50 of Australian Idol 2004.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31Win29–2 John HopoateTKO2, 2:549 Nov 2019 St Marys Band Club, Sydney, Australia
30Loss28–2 Dave AllenKO3, 0:5820 Apr 2019 The O2 Arena, London, England
29Win28–1 Kamil SokolowskiUD62 Mar 2019 Trump Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland
28Win27–1 Junior PatiKO5, 2:3524 Nov 2018 Saint Johns Netball Centre, Auckland, New ZealandWon inaugural WBC–ABCO Silver heavyweight title
27Win26–1 Julius LongKO3, 1:0428 Sep 2018 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia
26Loss25–1 Dillian WhyteKO6, 0:3724 Mar 2018 The O2 Arena, London, EnglandFor WBC Silver heavyweight title
25Win25–0 Matthew GreerTKO2, 1:142 Jun 2017 Club Punchbowl, Sydney, Australia
24Win24–0 Ruslan ChagaevTKO10, 2:275 Mar 2016 Colosseum Sport Hall, Grozny, RussiaWon WBA heavyweight title;
Chagaev later reinstated as champion after Browne failed a drug test
23Win23–0 Julius LongKO9, 2:5914 Aug 2015 Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
22Win22–0 Chauncy WelliverRTD5, 3:0012 Nov 2014 Hisense Arena, Melbourne, AustraliaRetained WBA Inter-Continental and WBC–EPBC heavyweight titles
21Win21–0 Andriy RudenkoUD121 Aug 2014 Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, EnglandRetained WBC–EPBC heavyweight title;
Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
20Win20–0 Éric Martel-BahoéliKO5, 1:2626 Apr 2014 Ponds Forge, Sheffield, EnglandWon vacant Commonwealth and WBC–EPBC heavyweight titles
19Win19–0 Clarence TillmanKO2, 2:2313 Dec 2013 Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
18Win18–0 Richard TowersTKO5, 0:512 Nov 2013 Hull Arena, Hull, England
17Win17–0 Travis Walker7, 3:0025 Jul 2013 Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
16Win16–0 James ToneyUD1228 Apr 2013 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant WBF heavyweight title
15Win15–0 Kotatsu TakeharaKO1, 1:081 Mar 2013 Lions Richlands, Brisbane, Australia
14Win14–0 Jason GavernTKO3, 2:2311 Dec 2012 Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, SAR
13Win13–0 Hastings RasaniTKO1, 0:4416 Jun 2012 Manchester Velodrome, Manchester, England
12Win12–0 Paul ButlinTKO4, 1:1521 Apr 2012 Sports Centre, Oldham, England
11Win11–0 Colin WilsonKO3, 2:5617 Feb 2012 Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, AustraliaWon vacant Australian heavyweight title
10Win10–0 Alipate Liava'aTKO1, 1:519 Dec 2011 WA Italian Club, Perth, Australia
9Win9–0 Paula LakaiKO4, 1:575 Nov 2011 WA Italian Club, Perth, Australia
8Win8–0 Fai FalamoeTKO5, 2:5930 Sep 2011 Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant WBF Asia-Pacific heavyweight title
7Win7–0 Clarence Tillman125 Aug 2011 Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre, Kalgoorlie, AustraliaWon vacant
6Win6–0 Scott BelshawKO2, 1:4013 May 2011 Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
5Win5–0 Henry TaaniKO1, 2:3415 Apr 2011 WA Basketball Centre, Perth, Australia
4Win4–0 Alipate Liava'aKO3, 1:352 Apr 2011 Goldfields Oasis Recreation Centre, Kalgoorlie, Australia
3Win3–0 John SzigetiKO3, 1:174 Feb 2011 Southport RSL Club, Gold Coast, Australia
2Win2–0 Sam Leuii1, 2:101 Jul 2010 Penrith Stadium, Sydney, Australia
1Win1–0 Jason Keir4, 0:3320 Mar 2009 Manly Leagues Club, Sydney, Australia

Mixed martial arts record

Mixed martial arts titles

Xtreme MMA