Australian Lucas "Big Daddy" Browne has bludgoened Canada's Eric Martel Bahoeli in a fifth round stoppage to win the vacant Commonwealth and WBC Eurasian Pacific Council heavyweight boxing titles.
On a night when his major domestic rival Alex Leapai was thumped by Wladimir Klitschko in his world title challenge in Germany, 193cm tall former cage fighter Browne's power punching reigned supreme in Sheffield, England.
Slow of foot but mighty powerful, 35-year-old Browne (20-0, 18ko) was outpointed by Bahoeli (10-4, 7ko) in the first round, but then knocked the 32-year-old Canadian down twice before stopping him with a fierce upper cut and left in the fifth.
Browne suffered a bad cut over his left eye in an accidental head clash in the third round and went all out to finish the fight after the fourth round was interrupted for the ringside physician to inspect his wound.
Browne's English manager, former world champion Ricky Hatton, has tipped big-hitting Browne to succeed where Leapai failed and punch his way to the world heavyweight title.
"I think he's got every chance of being a heavyweight champion of the world," said Hatton before the fight.
"He's got a murderous punch and that punch gives him a chance.
"We all know in the heavyweight division that one punch can change everything and he has such a punch.
"There can't be many out there who hit as hard as he does."
Browne cuts a mean figure with his towering, tattooed frame and bald head.
"He's one of the meanest-looking fellas you could ever wish to see, but he is such a nice guy," said Hatton.
