Lucas Browne Mandatory Foe For Ruslan Chagaev

That big lad (above), promoted by Ricky Hatton, has been stirring up buzz the last few months, looking to put the word out that he thinks he’s ready to get at the best and brightest in the heavyweight divsion. We now get word that 35-year-old Lucas Browne (22-0) is a step closer to reaching that goal, with word dropping that the WBA wants their “regular” champ Ruslan Chagaev to do a leather trade with the Aussie. (Wladimir Klitschko has the WBA gold or super special or super duper champion belt, I forget what it’s called, right now.)

Now, real quick, I didn’t know that the 36-year-old Chagaev, only an intermittent participant in ring wars in recent years, held this crown. In July, he snagged the bauble when he scored a MD over another ultra-vet, Fres Oquendo. The left-handed Uzbeki would on paper be the stiffest test for the beefy and tatted up relative newcomer to pugilism. I checked in with him, to get his quick-take on the news. Does Browne know when and where the bout will be, and has he started scouting Chagaev? No deets on the particulars, Browne said, and “I already have watched tape and I am confident.”

Does he have a preference on where the bout should unfold? “Not in his home country. Hopefully in Germany or the UK,” Browne said. “I just want to be the best I can be and fight everyone and cement myself as the best heavyweight Australia has ever had.”

Here is the release Team Hatton sent out today, heralding the news:

LUCAS BROWNE MADE WBA MANDATORY

AUSTRALIAN powerhouse Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne has been made the mandatory challenger for Ruslan Chagaev’s WBA heavyweight title.

Hatton Promotions has worked hard to get Browne the correct opportunities at the correct time since signing him in 2012 and the Sydney-native’s rise up the rankings has been little short of mesmeric.

In the past 12 months, Browne has won a host of titles and climbed from number 15 in the WBA’s ratings to a verge of becoming his country’s first ever world heavyweight champion.

Correspondence issued to Hatton Promotions from WBA chairman Gilberto Mendoza has confirmed that Chagaev’s representatives now have 30 days to negotiate the fight.

“I’m delighted that Lucas has been made the WBA’s mandatory challenger,” said promoter Ricky Hatton. “Chagaev has shown that he’s one of best heavyweights around, but Lucas is a massive puncher and can knock him out.

“Australia has never had a world champion at heavyweight so this is a chance for Lucas to make history and he’s going to grab it with both hands.

“Lucas is a warrior who’ll fight anyone at any time and he’s been itching to get back in the ring. We’ve had a lot of people asking when they’ll see him fight again and I think the fans will be very pleased now we can reveal what we’ve been working on.

“I became a promoter to help boxers with their careers and to make champions. For Lucas to become Hatton Promotions’ first world champion will be a very proud moment.”

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