LUCAS BROWNE: “I HAVE 24 MILLION AUSSIES BEHIND ME”
LUCAS BROWNE believes he’ll have a whole nation supporting him when he steps into the ring to face WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev in Grozny on Saturday night (March 5).
While there will be few Australians to cheer him on in the arena this weekend, Browne feels everyone in his homeland will be turning on their TV sets and hoping for him to make history.
Australia is yet to have a world champion in the heavyweight division so the hard-hitting Sydney-native has the opportunity to turn himself into a national hero.
“I’ve been training very well and I know I’ve got 24 million Australians back home supporting me,” he said.
“I don’t think about not winning. I’ve trained to win and that’s what I’m here to do. I don’t want to let my countrymen down.
“I’ve had three months away from my family. It’s been very hard but it’s going to be worth it.”
In a division filled with the likes of Deontay Wilder, David Haye and Tyson Fury, confrontations are commonplace amongst boxing’s biggest men, but Browne says he feels no animosity towards Chagaev.
“I have no reason to hate Chagaev whatsoever. We are two warriors who are coming to fight. He’s a family man with a wife and children and so am I. We are both here just to do a job.
“He is experienced. He’s fought big fights but I’m taller and I have a lot of power. I’ve trained for the 12 rounds. I’m fit and I’m prepared to go 12 rounds. If the moment is there, of course I’ll take it to knock him out.”
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LUCAS “BIG DADDY” BROWNE has been enjoying a luxury experience in Chechnya ahead of his WBA world heavyweight title fight against Ruslan Chagaev this Saturday night (March 5).
The heavy-handed Aussie jetted into Grozny late last week and has been overwhelmed by the beauty of the place and the hospitality of the locals, despite the city’s fearsome reputation.
Browne has been given his own security team to guide him around and has been pleased to see his face on billboards at almost every turn.
“I’m being treated like a rock star over here. We are in five-star accommodation and everything is going perfectly. The whole city is caught up in pre-fight excitement,” Browne, 23-0 (20 KOs), said.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect coming here, but it is a beautiful city with wonderful people.
“I’m putting the finishing touches on my preparation now and I’m really looking forward to getting in there and making history.”
Australia has never had a world title holder in the heavyweight division and Lucas is keen to right his name into the history books with a blistering performance.
“The thought of me doing what no man has before really spurs me on,” he stated. “I can’t and I won’t let this opportunity pass me by.
“I’m in the best shape of my career and I’m ready to knock Chagaev out. He’s been a very good champion over the years, but it has to be my time now.”
