By Jake Donovan
Undefeated heavyweight Lucas "Big Daddy" Browne is anxious to accelerate his career. A late starter in the sport, the 35-year old - fresh off of a 5th round knockout of Eric Martel Bahoeli this past Saturday in England - now has his sights set on a major title, namely the winner of the upcoming vacant title fight rematch between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola.
"Like every heavyweight my ultimate goal is (Wladimir) Klitschko, but I know I've got a few little things I need to work on before I'll be ready for that fight," Browne said in pleading his case for what he believes is the next logical choice. "Arreola and Stiverne are guys I'm interested in now. I think they've got the sort of styles that I match up well with and I think they're both fighters I can beat.
"If a world title was on the line against one of them, then even better."
Browne's knockout of Bahoeli came roughly around the same time as Klitschko's own win - a 5th round stoppage of Alex Leapai in Germany for the latest defense of his lineal heavyweight championship.
Meanwhile, Stiverne and Arreola are prepared to meet again on May 10 in California. Stiverne scored an early knockdown en route to a wide decision win in their first fight last March, earning a mandatory ranking and a promised shot at then-titlist Vitali Klitschko.
The elder Klitschko has since retired to focus his time on battling civil unrest in his native Ukraine, leaving his younger brother to solely rule the roost.
With "just" one Klitschko for all of the heavyweight contenders to stand in line, Browne instead prefers to challenge himself against the best of the rest. The unbeaten heavyweight, who is represented by Hatton Promotions, has also looked into fights with Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury, who are preparing for their own rematch as the pair of Brits meet again in July.
Given what's at stake in the Stiverne-Arreola rematch coupled with the fact that it's two months earlier than Chisora-Fury, it makes all of the sense in the world for Browne to pursue the winner of that fight. Despite coming at a career-heaviest 273 lb. for Saturday's win, the Aussie knockout artist still believes he's on par with any top heavyweight contender in the world - including the two challenging for a vacant title.
"I've looked at their records and I don't believe they've been beating guys that are any better than the ones I've faced. Other than him beating Arreola last time, there's not a lot on Stiverne's record and Arreola has lost when he's faced the division's real elite.
"Obviously, I'd still love to fight Chisora and Fury in the UK, but the chance to come up against the winner of Stiverne-Arreola is something I'd jump at."
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America . Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
