Imagine watching a legendary fighter, once crowned heavyweight champion, now facing the harsh reality of repeated knockouts at 46 years old. Lucas Browne's boxing journey has taken a dramatic downturn, and it raises big questions about the toll of age in the ring. But here's where it gets controversial: is this veteran still chasing glory, or is it time to hang up the gloves? Let's dive deeper into his latest setback and see what the future might hold in this wild world of combat sports.
On Saturday evening in Leverkusen, Germany, Browne's career hit another low point when he suffered yet another defeat by knockout, marking his fourth straight loss inside the distance. The opponent this time was Armenian rising star Arman Khudoyan, who remains undefeated with a perfect 7-0 record. For beginners in boxing, a 'knockout' simply means the fight ends when one fighter is unable to continue due to the impact of punches, often leaving them unconscious or too dazed to go on. Browne, with a career record of 31-7, managed to stay standing throughout the bout, but in the final moments of the sixth round—about 20 seconds left—he was trapped against the ropes, his legs wobbling from the relentless pressure.
This loss extends Browne's current skid to four in a row, a stark contrast to his heyday. His last professional victory came in June 2022, when he delivered a spectacular one-round demolition of amateur sensation Junior Fa. That win was a highlight, showcasing the power that once made him a force in the heavyweight division. But since then, the Australian boxer has been overwhelmed by stronger opponents, including Hemi Ahio, Mark Petrovsky, and Jarrell Miller. And this is the part most people miss: at just 21 years old, Khudoyan is 25 years younger than Browne, highlighting the generational gap that many aging fighters face. It's a reminder that in sports like boxing, youth and speed can often overpower experience alone.
Lately, Browne has found more success outside the traditional glove-wearing rings—in the raw, no-holds-barred world of bare-knuckle boxing. For those unfamiliar, bare-knuckle fights are like classic boxing but without padded gloves, meaning punches land with even more direct force, often leading to quicker, more brutal endings. Browne boasts an impressive 1-0 record in this niche, kicking off his bare-knuckle journey in September with a second-round stoppage of Corey Harrison at the BKB: Bristol Brawl event. He's gearing up for his next outing on December 5 in Cardiff, Wales, where he could potentially climb the ranks quickly.
In a recent chat with talkSPORT.com, Browne opened up about his ambitions in this new arena. 'The ultimate goal in bare-knuckle is to become world champion,' he shared, full of determination. 'As far as I understand, BKB doesn't have a massive heavyweight presence, so I could rise quite quickly. My career path in terms of going for world titles in boxing is over. I'm 46 years old, I understand that there isn't a big time frame left.' He even added a hopeful note: 'But you never know, I could become a two-time world champion in bare-knuckle.' It's inspiring to hear his optimism, but it also sparks debate—should a man of his age continue risking his health for titles, or is this a smart pivot to a less regulated sport where he can still shine?
To put Browne's journey into perspective, let's look at his standout achievements in professional boxing. Back in 2016, he shocked the world by claiming the WBA's 'regular' heavyweight title—a secondary belt in the World Boxing Association, which is one of the major sanctioning bodies that award championships in boxing—with a dramatic upset win over Uzbekistan's Ruslan Chagaev. For context, Chagaev was a former champion himself, so this was no small feat. Browne was down on the canvas in the sixth round and behind on the judges' scorecards (88-81 and two at 88-82) heading into the tenth. But in a classic underdog story reminiscent of movie magic like Rocky, he turned it around with a single, devastating right-hand punch that sealed his victory.
In the years after that triumph, Browne faced a mix of highs and lows as he battled various opponents around the globe. In 2018, he suffered his first professional loss to British fighter Dillian Whyte via a savage knockout in the sixth round. Then, a year later, Dave Allen added to his woes with another defeat. These encounters show the unpredictable nature of boxing, where even champions can stumble against rising talents or tough challengers. Yet, Browne's resilience in switching to bare-knuckle boxing suggests he's not ready to step away just yet.
What do you think? Is Lucas Browne's shift to bare-knuckle a brilliant reinvention or a risky gamble for someone his age? Do you agree that his boxing world-title days are behind him, or could he surprise us again? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's discuss the controversies surrounding aging fighters and the future of combat sports!
