Aussie puncher Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne says he’d be prepared to step in against the winner of the upcoming WBC heavyweight title fight between Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne.
Browne enhanced his standing with the Mexico City-based sanctioning body in Sheffield, England on Saturday night by blasting out Stiverne’s countryman Eric Martel Bahoeli in five rounds and he’s eager for sterner tests.
Fights with both Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury have been mentioned for the hard-hitting Sydney man, but he’d happily push them to one side if a world title opportunity became available.
“Like every heavyweight my ultimate goal is Klitschko, but I know I’ve got a few little things I need to work on before I’ll be ready for that fight,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Matt Clark, Browne’s manager, added: “Lucas showed he’s got the heart of a lion against Bahoeli on Saturday and I think most world ranked heavyweights have now sat up and taken note of his courage and power.
“He became the first Aussie to win the Commonwealth heavyweight title in 122 years and now he wants to end another bad run as we’ve never had an Australian heavyweight champion of the world.
“Facing the winner of Stiverne and Arreola would be perfect for him. Like Lucas, they’re stocky guys who like to knock people out so a fight with them couldn’t fail to get people excited.”