Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne has spoken of his anger at the BBBofC’s refusal to sanction his proposed fight with Daniel Dubois, which was set to take place in November.
According to 43-year-old Browne, the fight was not sanctioned due to his age, despite him being ranked as a top fifteen heavyweight by the WBA and knocking out Junior Fa in round one of his last fight. On his Instagram, Browne raged that the board were not taking his recent accomplishments into account and simply disregarding him because of his age.
“The British Boxing Board of Control won’t sanction the fight because I’m too old, regardless of the fact that I started boxing at 32-years-old. I was a world champion at 36, with no amateur experience, coming off of two great knockout wins, I’m currently holding a IBF and a WBA regional title and a top fifteen world ranking with the WBA. I’m apparently too old.”
“It’s not like I’ve been beat around the head all my career, I’ve got three losses in total. How exactly does this work? Where a body of people, who are obviously too old to fight themselves, just go ‘nah, he is too old’. I’m coming off of two great knockout wins, with two belts and a world rating. How am I too old?”
‼️ Lucas Browne goes in on the BBBofC for refusing to sanction a fight between himself and Daniel Dubois. #boxingpic.twitter.com/gmHnQArvKb
— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) October 6, 2022
Former sparring partner of both Browne and Dubois, and current WBC world champion, Tyson Fury, also had his say on the matter and clearly believed that Browne should be allowed to fight. ‘The Gypsy King’ was quick to point out older fighters who have fought at the elite level, who had no issues with sanctioning their fights.
“Let the man fight, [Luis] Ortiz is 55 and Bhop [Bernard Hopkins] was 50, 43 is only a pup”
Of course Ortiz isn’t actually 55, he happens to be the exact same age as Browne, 43.
We can expect an appeal from Browne, but the clock is ticking and if Shane McGuigan and the rest of the Daniel Dubois team are wanting their man to fight in November, they will likely be looking at alternative opponents.