Former WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight champion Lucas Browne has been handed the opportunity to win belts in two separate sports.
The Aussie puncher made a successful debut in bare-knuckle boxing last month with a second-round stoppage win over Corey Harrison at BKB 45.
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BKB are putting on a stacked card on November 22, live on talkSPORTCredit: BKB
Now, in only his second outing, Browne (1-0) has landed a world title shot against long-reigning heavyweight champion Gustavo Trujillo (7-0) on November 22 in Florida.
Trujillo has knocked out all seven of his opponents in the first round and also boasts an unblemished 9-0 professional boxing record.
It is undoubtedly a dangerous proposition for Browne, who turns 47 in April, but the 38-fight (31-7) boxing veteran is ready to seize his moment.
“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 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.”
The pair will top a stacked card at Florida’s Charles F Dodge Center, featuring four world title fights.
Billed as ‘The Night of the Four Kings’, the entire event will be streamed live on the talkSPORT Boxing YouTube channel.
In a highly anticipated co-main event, former Kell Brook opponent Barrie Jones (11-1) looks to regain the super middleweight strap from Lowrant-T Nelson (8-1-1) after dropping it to the South African in August last year.
Further down the bill, the always exciting Jarod Grant (8-2) defends his lightweight belt against fast-rising Jon Barnard (4-1), while Yordan Fuentes (4-0) and Julian Fernandez (2-0) duke it out for the vacant super cruiserweight title.
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Browne won the WBA ‘regular’ heavyweight belt with a KO win over Chagaev in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty’Like something stabbed me’ – Paulie Malignaggi shows off gruesome injuries following successful bare-knuckle return
Announcing the blockbuster event, BKB CEO David Tetrault said: “BKB Bare Knuckle is keeping its foot on the gas and putting another stamp on a historic 2025 on November 22 with BKB 48: Night of Four Kings, featuring four title fights showcasing some of the best pound-for-pound bare knuckle fighters from around the world.
“Coming off arguably our biggest show ever, where Paulie Malignaggi defied critics and was triumphant in his return to fighting, and Marko Martinjak became a two-division champion, claimed his fifth title in five weight classes, and solidified himself among the sports’ elite – we believe this will be our most explosive card to date.”
What did Lucas Browne achieve in gloved boxing?
Main event attraction Browne became an unlikely heavyweight champion in 2016 when he blasted away Ruslan Chagaev in a remarkable comeback victory.
He didn’t, however, hold onto the black and gold belt for long as he was subsequently stripped of his recognition by the WBA after failing a drug test for the banned substance clenbuterol.
Over the following years, Browne went on to trade wins and losses with varying levels of opposition, including high-profile defeats to Dillian Whyte and Dave Allen in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
He is currently riding a four-fight skid in gloved boxing, with each of his setbacks coming by way of knockout.