By Jake Donovan
Barely a day after Alexander Povetkin his team all but removed the top contender as the next challenger for Deontay Wilder’s next ring appearance, unbeaten Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne has willingly offered his services for the fall assignment.
Wilder and his team have designs on fighting four times in 2015, schedule permitting. The undefeated heavyweight titlist is fresh off of a 9th round knockout win of fringe contender Eric Molina. His performance drew mixed reviews, but fared well at the box office, playing to a sold out crowd at Bartow Arena on University of Alabama-Birmingham campus, less than a hour from Wilder’s Tuscaloosa hometown.
His next title defense is being targeted for late September. The fight will have to take place elsewhere, given that the University of Alabama’s powerhouse college football squad has home games every weekend in September.
As locations are being sought, so too are potential candidates to stand opposite the 6’7” heavyweight in the ring on fight night. Povetkin is the current mandatory challenger, but his team revealed that talks are not where they need to be in order to make a September fight possible.
Browne and his team promise that won’t be an issue if and when such a fight is offered.
"If Wilder's team can send us a contract we will have it back to them signed, sealed and delivered—immediately” promises Matt Clark, Browne’s manager. "You've got two brutal sluggers with dynamite in each fist. It's a fight that the world would love to see. The difference is Lucas Browne has a great chin to match his concussive power.”
With the mandatory title defense not due until January, Wilder is technically free and clear to defend against any other heavyweight currently in the Top 15 of the WBC ratings. Browne not only fits that bill, but presents a formidable challenge to Wilder and any other heavyweight in the world.
Browne himself is a mandatory challenger to another version of the heavyweight title. In his back pocket sits a guaranteed crack at the winner of a July clash between defending secondary titlist Ruslan Chagaev and voluntary challenger Francisco Pianeta. Those plans can change should the opportunity arise to face Wilder, whom Browne assures he will be ready—contrary to popular opinion from the other side.
"Deontay says 'I don't believe in myself'. Anyone who knows me, knows that could not be further from the truth,” insists Browne (22-0, 20KOs), who has been out of the ring since a 5th round injury stoppage over Chauncey Welliver last November. “I believe I'm the hardest hitting heavyweight in the world. There's no doubt in my mind of that.
"He said he hopes I continue to climb the rankings... well I'm already ranked above his last opponent, Eric Molina, who would be lucky to last three rounds with me. He gave Wilder a tough fight.”
Browne has fought on three separate continents through six-plus years in the pro ranks, having posted wins in Europe, Asia and of course Australia. If it means fighting for a piece of the heavyweight crown, he’s eager to add North America to the mix in the coming months.
"I'm happy to fight Deontay Wilder anywhere in the world. Las Vegas, New York, his backyard. Wherever. It's a fight that would be explosive and that is what fight fans want to see in heavyweight boxing. Wilder said I might be his next opponent. Well it would be an honour to challenge for the heavyweight championship of the world. Have his team contact Hatton Promotions and we can give the fans what they want to see... an explosive fight!"
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox