Buoyed by a tidal wave of social media support, Lucas Browne is confident he can become Australia's first heavyweight boxing world champion.
The time of reckoning for the 36-year-old Sydneysider will be Saturday evening (Sunday morning AEDT) in Grozny, Chechnya, where he will challenge Uzbekistan's proven veteran and WBA regular champion, Ruslan Chagaev.
Challenger Browne weighed in about half a kilo heavier, with both men around the 113kg mark.
Browne (23-0, 20 KOs) expects 37-year-old Chagaev (34-2-1, 21 KOs) to apply the pressure that has helped earn him the nickname of "White Tyson".
A southpaw who has won his past seven fights since his last loss over four years ago, Chagaev will concede 16 centimetres in height to his Australian adversary, who has been a professional pugilist for almost 12 years less than the champion.
Browne and his trainer Rodney Williams have been concentrating on improving his mobility, not being a stationary target, and getting himself into positions from where he can utilise his famed punching power.
To that end, Browne may have already scored a pre-fight victory after the Chagaev camp questioned the legitimacy of the challenger's gloves.
"Pedro Diaz, head trainer of Chagaev was not happy with our Cleto Reyes gloves, believing there's not enough padding around the knuckles," Browne's manager Matt Clark said,
"Scales called for and of course the gloves weighed the required 10oz.
"We think they're rattled and thinking about Lucas's punching power. Matter resolved and we weighed their gloves also, to show we won't be pushed around."
Renowned for being a big user of social media who constantly interacts with his huge fan base, Browne has been overwhelmed by the level of support he has received so far from home.
"Social media is a wonderful thing, I feel like I've got the entirety of Australia behind me," Browne told AAP.
"It's a flood of (support), `we're proud of you', that sort of stuff. I'm very happy with that."
Chagaev is reportedly a friend of the Chechnyan president, who Browne got to meet in the lead-up to the fight.
"He is clearly someone who loves the sport of boxing. He told me Chagaev isn't worried about the fight but that he is," Browne said.
"He even punched me in the stomach for the press!
"Luckily I've trained so hard for this bout because he has a solid dig on him.
"I'm truly ready to become Australia's first ever world Heavyweight champion. I can't wait to bring that belt back home to our great country."
The fight will be shown in Australia live on pay TV provider Main Event.
