El veterano peso pesado Lucas Browne dio mayúscula sorpresa derrotando a Junior Fa en el primer asalto
Daniel Pi
@BastionBoxeo
Estadio Docklands (Marvel), Melbourne, Australia. Peso pesado.
Desde sus separados positivos en control antidopaje por clembuterol y ostarina en 2016, el veterano australiano Lucas Browne 31(27KO)-3(3) no había sumado una victoria ante un boxeador ni siquiera cercano al top 15, padeciendo además derrotas por knockout ante Dillian Whyte (en seis asaltos), David Allen (en tres rounds) y Paul Gallen (un round).
Teniendo en cuenta esta línea descendente, y llegando su última derrota ante un exjugador de rugby reconvertido, nadie esperaba que Browne pudiese enderezar demasiado su carrera. No obstante, en el respaldo del Kambosos-Haney, Browne ofreció una mayúscula sorpresa con una victoria en el primer asalto sobre el exranqueado neozelandés Junior Fa 19(10KO)-2(1), que venía de aguantar doce asaltos ante el excampeón mundial Joseph Parker y que pretendía usar a su rival como escalón.
Con un cruzado diestro seguido por un corto gancho zurdo, Browne puso en el tapiz a Fa, que quedó muy afectado y que en la lona tuvo muchísimos problemas para ponerse en pie. Finalmente, el boxeador se alzó e incluso, tambaleante, contestó a las peticiones del árbitro pero, tras ser perseguido brevemente en la reanudación, recibió un ilegal cruzado diestro a la nuca que le tiró al tapiz. Sin embargo, el árbitro no vio que el puño era antirreglamentario y detuvo el combate.
Evidentemente, aunque fue una victoria valiosa para Browne, especialmente en esta fase de su carrera, esta no debe llevarnos a equívocos incluso si esta vez el boxeador no termina dando su tercer positivo en antidopaje. Browne conectó un decisivo golpe en frío, pero sigue estando cerca del retiro y su rendimiento no va a renacer, por lo que seguramente con este triunfo a medio plazo recibirá una llamada para medirse a un boxeador con aspiraciones que le noqueará con notable facilidad.
Heavyweight veteran Lucas Browne scored a major upset by defeating Junior Fa in the first round
Daniel Pi
@BastionBoxeo
Docklands (Marvel) Stadium, Melbourne, Australia. Heavyweight.
Since his separate positives in doping test for clenbuterol and ostarine in 2016, the Australian veteran Lucas Browne 31(27KO)-3(3) had not added a victory against a fighter even close to the top 15, suffering knockout losses against Dillian Whyte (in six rounds), David Allen (in three rounds) and Paul Gallen (one round).
Considering this decreasing performance, and coming his latest loss to a former rugby player, no one expected Browne to be able to turn his career around too much. However, in the main card of the event Kambosos-Haney, Browne scored a major upset with a victory in the first round over the ex-ranked New Zealander Junior Fa 19(10KO)-2(1), who was coming from resisting twelve rounds against a former world champion (Joseph Parker) and intended to use his rival as a stepping stone.
With a right overhand followed by a short left hook, Browne put on the mat Fa, who was clearly hurt and had a lot of trouble getting to his feet. Finally, the boxer raised up and, wobbly, answered to the referee’s requests but, after being chased briefly at the restart, he received a right hand to the back of the head that threw him to the canvas again. However, the referee did not see that the punch was illegal and stopped the bout.
Obviously, although it was an important victory for Browne, especially at this stage of his career, it should not be misleading even if this time the boxer does not end up having his third positive doping test. Browne landed a decisive blow at the beginning, but he is still close to retirement and his level will not revive, so surely with this victory in the mid-term he will receive a call to face a fighter with aspirations who will knock him out with notable ease.