Lucas Browne had three words for his doubters after brutally knocking out Junior Fa in Melbourne – “I never left”.
The hulking heavyweight champion took less than two minutes to send Fa to the canvas with a brutal shot that should have instantly ended the bout.
The referee bizarrely allowed the fight to continue despite the obvious condition of Fa, and then Brown took about 30 seconds to dispatch his opponent again and force the ref’s hand.
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After claiming the emphatic victory, 43-year-old Browne stormed to the side of the ring and gave boxer-turned-commentator Barry Michael a gobful.
Michael had been one of many people who questioned whether Browne’s fighting career was over, and the veteran took the opportunity to let everyone know he’s still got it.
Even as he left the ring he was yelling “I never left” as he fist bumped and shook hands with anyone within reach.
“What a victory this is,” Michael said.
“Well done Lucas – he’s having a crack at me because I basically thought he should retire, but he just proved me wrong.
“I just thought it was a deadset tough ask for Lucas Browne. But the last thing that goes with any boxer is your power, and he has got loads of power.”
Browne was embarrassed little more than 12 months ago by rugby league great Paul Gallen, who pulverised the former world champion in a 90-second knockout in Wollongong.
Since then Brown has only fought one other time, beating Faiga Opelu by knockout in Fortitude Valley.
Brown spoke to media after his win in Melbourne.
“Deadset I’ve got the power to knock anyone out in the world,” Browne said.
“The reason I don’t throw it is because I’m scared of hurting people – I’m not talking about in the ring, I mean in sparring and things like that. So I’ve got in a habit of not throwing my right hand.
“He shouldn’t have been allowed to keep going to be honest, he was wobbling everywhere.
“Like (Deontay) Wilder, I have the power, and if I land it properly I can knock anyone out in the world.”