Viva Las Vegas for 'Big Daddy' Browne
Australia's top-ranked heavyweight Lucas Browne heads to boxing's capital of Las Vegas this week as he looks to position himself for a possible world title shot in 2015.
The former Northbridge bouncer will attend the annual World Boxing Council convention, alongside his promoter Ricky Hatton and trainer Jeff Fenech.
"Big Daddy" Browne is now ranked in the top five by three of the big four sanctioning bodies - the WBC, the World Boxing Association and the International Boxing Federation.
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And the unbeaten Commonwealth champion (22-0) could be set for a further climb in the WBA rankings, with the status of interim champion Luis Ortiz under review after the Cuban allegedly failed a drug test when beating Lateef Kayode in September.
The WBA's No.2 ranked fighter, Bryant Jennings, is in line to fight "Super" champion Wladimir Klitschko, while its No.4 ranked man Tyson Fury is now the mandatory challenger to Klitschko through World Boxing Organisation after his 10-round stoppage win over fellow Brit Dereck Chisora.
"It is a bit of a mess at the moment but when the dust settles Lucas could end up the WBA's No.1 challenger to (regular champion) Ruslan Chagaev because he doesn't have other commitments," Browne's manager Matt Clark told thewest.com.au.
Clark said talks were at "very early stages" about Browne's next opponent, adding: "Whatever happens, he is set for a huge 2015. The way I see it, I think he'll have a world title eliminator at some time next year."
New Zealand prospect Joseph Parker - ranked No.10 by the WBA - moved to 12-0 on the weekend and his connections have talked up an Anzac stoush with Browne, who holds regional belts with the WBC and WBA.
"Parker's a good fighter but let's be realistic, unless they make an exceptional offer then what's the attraction for Lucas to fight him?" Clark said. "Lucas is looking up, not down. So unless they put up some serious money for Ricky Hatton to consider then I don't see the appeal."
Another top-10 WBA fighter, Perth-born Mark de Mori (No.7), is also in the mix. De Mori chalked up a routine win on the weekend in Croatia, where he now lives.
"Again, if Mark's promoter Don King put up good money then I'm sure Ricky would look at it," Clark said. "But I doubt Mark would want that fight."
