Former heavyweight champion Lucas Browne has been handed an opportunity to make combat sports history after landing a shot at the Bare Knuckle Boxing heavyweight title.
“Big Daddy”, who became the first Australian to ever win a piece of the world heavyweight boxing title in 2016, will take on long-reigning BKB champ Gustavo Trujillo on November 22 in Florida.
Trujillo, “The Cuban Assassin”, has defeated all seven of his opponents by first round knockout – and also boasts a spotless 9-0 pro boxing record.
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If 46-year-old Browne dethrones Trujillo, he will become the first pug since John L. Sullivan to have won world heavyweight titles in gloved and bare-knuckle boxing.
And the first ever in the modern era.
“I’m the sort of man who never looks at an opportunity like this and says no, I won’t or can’t, it’s a massive opportunity and I’m taking it with both hands,” said Browne.
“It’s a massive opportunity and I’m taking it with both hands.
“It’s something that doesn’t come around often for many people so I will never not give it a try.
“I’m thankful to the BKB for considering me and I’ll make them proud also.”
“Big Daddy” made the move to bare-knuckle after multiple defeats in gloved competition over recent years, including losses to Jarrell Miller and Arman Khudoyan.
“The ultimate goal in bare-knuckle is to become world champion,” he said of his reinvention.
“As far as I understand, BKB doesn’t have a massive heavyweight presence, so I could rise quite quickly.”
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Browne burst onto the bare-knuckle scene earlier this year with a second-round stoppage of Corey Harrison in Bristol, England.
“I’ve fought my whole life – this is just another form of it,” said Browne.
“Bare-knuckle is raw, it’s honest and it suits my style.”