March 28, 2024

When the fight between Dillian Whyte 23 (17 KOs)-1 (1 KO)-0 and Lucas Browne 25 (22 KOs)-1 (1 KO)-0 was made there was always the assumption that Whyte was the superior boxer, however the ease that he not only boxed but beat up Browne was surprising to most.

Credit has to be given to Whyte who used his jab excellently to tax Browne from range and to also follow up the jab with right hands both straight and wide. Browne though didn’t really do himself justice in the fight. Maybe at 38 his age just caught up to him, and he was never the most picture perfect fighter to watch as he himself admits, but here against Whyte Browne didn’t seem at his sharpest, and the gameplan seemed reckless at best and non-existent at worst. He elected to simply walk forward with low volume and try to throw a big right hand three or four times a round to try and clip Whyte and work from there, but a lack of head movement, jabs and foot speed really hindered him who as the fight progressed became more and more marked up. He especially seemed to be caught as he backed up in straight lines with his hands down making it easy for Whyte to land in twos and threes. Browne is no stranger to cuts so it shouldn’t have come much of a surprise when he felt the blood start to flow, but by round four there was a deep gash over his left eye obscuring his vision and the fight was becoming less and less competitive. Whyte seemed intent on piling on the pressure in round six, and following a combination that sent Browne to the ropes Whyte landed a lovely left hook that will definitely be on the shortlist for knockout of the year. Browne was knocked out before he hit the canvas, and watching his head hit the floor everyone wished for Browne’s safety as he was delivered oxygen by paramedics after the bout was called off. He was sent to hospital on a stretcher as a precaution but was conscious and aware as he was carried out.

As for Whyte this is the highlight reel knockout that he desperately needed after a string of if not lacklustre more subdued performances, and being covered by HBO in America this is the sort of exposure that Whyte will need if he is to drag Wilder to the UK. Wilder seemed intent on facing Joshua but it could be taken out of his hands if the WBC orders a fight between Wilder and Whyte, who holds the number one contender spot. If the fight was to be made tomorrow one has to assume that Wilder would be a sizable favourite, and the prospect of coming over to the UK and fight on a Matchroom card would certainly mean big bucks for the Alabama native, but maybe it’s just Wilder’s ego that will stop the fight being made. The idea of having to audition for a fight against Joshua maybe just doesn’t appeal.

This was a good win for Whyte, a fight that puts him one step forward in the heavyweight picture. Like Wilder three weeks ago and the winner of Joshua Parker the heavyweight scene is narrowing and the undefeated records that once littered the division are starting to diminish. While Whyte is definitely not the consensus top heavyweight he’s put himself in a great position strategically for Joshua or Wilder, and though few would pick the Brixton man to come out on top against either it’ll definitely be entertaining watching him take on the world.

On the undercard there were two quick knockouts as first Lewis Ritson 15 (9 KOs)-0-0 weathered an early storm as late replacement Scott Cardle 22 (7 KOs)- 2 (1 KO)-1 was eventually stopped in the second round when his corner threw in the towel for the British Lightweight title. On the chief undercard Frank Buglioni 21 (15 KOs)- 3 (2 KOs)-1 will be deeply disappointed as he was knocked down by Callum Johnson 17 (12 KOs)-0-0 in the first and never really recovered, forcing the referee to make the stoppage later in the round for the British and Commonwealth Light- Heavyweight title.