By Anthony Cocks
WBC #1 heavyweight contender Dillian “The Body Snatcher” Whyte 23-1 (17) roughed up and busted up Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne 25-1 (22) before stopping him with a big left hook in the sixth round at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.
Whyte, who holds the spurious WBC Silver heavyweight title, was taking a huge risk in facing the unbeaten Browne with a world title shot against undefeated American knockout artist and WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder just around the corner.
“Deontay Wilder, where you at?” said Whyte after the fight. “Let’s go! Let’s go! I’m ready. Let’s get it, Deontay. No more excuses. Forget [Anthony] Joshua. Let’s do this in June.”
As expected the 29-year-old from Brixton started fast, attacking his bigger opponent and opening up a cut over his left eye in the opening stanza. Whyte took the attack downstairs in the second and third rounds before returning upstairs to bust up Browne’s face in the fourth and fifth.
Browne, who had fought less than two rounds in the previous two years, looked slow and ponderous and simply couldn’t get untracked against the rampaging Whyte.
The unlucky Australian was never in the fight.
In the sixth round with his nose bloodied and his left eye closing, Browne ducked under a right cross only pop his head back up directly in line with Whyte’s follow-up left hook. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Australian wore the punch flush and pitched face-first to the canvas, out cold.
Official time of the stoppage was 0:37.
The 38-year-old Browne spent some time in the ring being administered oxygen and being tended to by the ringside physician. After five minutes he rose to his feet and signalled to the crowd that he was okay before leaving for further treatment.
The lone loss on Whyte’s resume came against current WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua who will face WBO titleholder Joseph Parker of New Zealand at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales next weekend in a highly-anticipated clash.
Whyte versus Browne was promoted by Matchroom Sport and was broadcast on Sky Sports UK and HBO in the United States.