GROZNY: Lucas Browne became Australia’s first world heavyweight boxing champion early on Sunday, surprisingly beating WBA regular champion Ruslan Chagaev by technical knockout.

The unbeaten Browne was knocked down in the sixth round but fought back to send Chagaev to the canvas with a big right in the 10th.

While the Uzbek champion got to his feet, he was immediately backed into the ropes by Browne, who hit him with a barrage of unanswered right hooks until the referee stopped the fight.

Chagaev claimed he was able to continue but accepted the referee’s decision.

Browne’s record improved to 24-0 (21 KO), while Chagaev dropped to 34-3-1 (21 KO).

Browne wins the so-called regular version of the WBA belt, while Britain’s Tyson Fury is considered the WBA’s “unified” champion, since he also holds the WBO version.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2016