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Boxing manager Matt Clark is looking on the bright side of Lucas Browne’s fight with Richard Towers falling through.
The big punching heavyweights were set to meet July 25 at the Melbourne Pavilion, but Towers was forced to withdraw as he has been unable to obtain a visa.
Tough American Travis “Freight Train” Walker has agreed to step up to the plate and Clark sees him as an ideal late notice test for his charge.
“While I was disappointed that the Towers fight has been cancelled again, I’m delighted that such a top level replacement has been brought in,” Clark, who also trains Browne, said.
“Travis is well-known to Aussie fight fans. He was in a tremendous fight with Alex Leapai and blasted out Kali Meehan.
“He has been in with some top class operators. He’s had Tomasz Adamek and Chris Arreola on the deck so it’s a great fight for Lucas and I know he’s trained hard for the bout.”
If victorious on Thursday – a logical next fight for Browne would be against the aforementioned Leapai. The majority of boxing experts down under see them as number one and two in the country, so a meeting would be a huge draw.
But Clark is also keen to state that, despite two cancellations, the eagerly anticipated tussle with Towers is far from dead in the water.
He said: “I’m sure Leapai and Browne will meet at some point and it’ll be a big bout for Aussie fight fans.
“The same goes for Richard Towers. If we need to come to England for that fight, we’re there. Lucas has a profile that is really growing in the UK and Ireland. You’ve only got to look at his Twitter.
“Hopefully those fans will get to see him in the flesh again soon. Firstly though, we need to get through Walker.”
Lucas himself added: “The replacement of Travis Walker is an awesome one and the things that I’ve been working on will still be used against him.
“Travis has shown he has power but also that he comes on strong in the early rounds, so it’s up to me to stay firm with my guard and not fall into a brawl with him. I want to box him and show my skills.”
