Browne showed the heart of a champion against Long

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Lucas BrowneWBA World heavyweight title contender Lucas Browne (23-0, 20 KO’s) showed the heart of a champion on Aug. 14 against Julius Long.

What seemed like a poor showing for Browne, has turned into an impressive display of battling through adversity.

According to doctors, Browne broke his thumb in the first round and was forced to box one-handed until he finally knocked out the Kiwi fighter in the ninth round.

Browne is currently the mandatory challenger to Ruslan Chagaev’s WBA title. However, Chagaev has been ordered to fight Fres Oquendo in a rematch due to an earlier court case in which Oquendo’s promoters, Square Ring Promotions and Hitz Boxing, secured a preliminary injunction against Terek Box Event, Chagaev’s promoter to prevent the company from promoting Chagaev in any future WBA title fights until he gives Oquendo a rematch.

Oquendo’s team claimed that the terms of the contract were breached, claiming that their fighter was promised an immediate rematch, but Chagaev’s team decided to pursue other options.

Oquendo also tested positive for tamoxifen and anastrozole after the fight – two prohibited substances.

Unfortunately for Browne, that means he’s going to have to keep taking smaller fights until it’s time for the big show, and of course resting his hand, but thankfully, it doesn’t appear he will need an operation.

“Well, the bad news is that it was a crack in the bone,” Browne explained via Boxing News Online. I broke it with the first right hand I threw. I felt it straight away.

“Luckily the doctor has said an operation isn’t necessary. I’ve got the thumb in a splint, and it’s just a matter of resting it for four weeks or so and letting it heal completely.

“I was contacted by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at North Parramatta. I went down and used their Hyperbaric chamber which should really help me with the healing process. The swelling is going down, and I’m looking forward to working on my cardio in the meantime.”

Browne’s manager, Matt Clark, had nothing but praise for his fighter’s will and determination to fight through the pain to come home victorious.

“Lucas showed a lot of heart fighting with a broken thumb. It wasn’t his best performance, and we know that, but he still stopped an opponent who was determined and who showed up to fight. He told me his right hand hurt like hell every time he threw it.

“Lucas Browne is always up for a battle though. He has an incredible will to win. We are hearing that Ruslan Chagaev and Fres Oquendo are close to finalizing their fight plans and that will allow us to map out the rest of our year.”