Lucas Browne’s angry 5am message to critics after Gallen fight

Lucas Browne was the laughing stock of the boxing world after being knocked out by Paul Gallen — but he’s objected to one reaction.

Paul Gallen puts the finishing touches on Lucas Browne. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Lucas Browne has responded angrily to suggestions he took a dive in his first-round knockout defeat against Paul Gallen on Wednesday night.

The veteran Aussie heavyweight entered the bout as the far more credentialed fighter but looked helpless against the onslaught from the retired rugby league player and lasted less than two minutes.

Browne’s performance appeared to back rumours his preparation for the main event was far from perfect and his effort was branded “pathetic” by former Aussie world titleholder Billy Dib.

He was also forced to deny he munched down a sausage roll in the dressing room before the bout and in an angry 5am Facebook post hit back at anyone suggesting the bout was fixed.

“It’s so f***ing sad to see so many bullshit comments, attacks, haters and people saying I took a dive,” the 42-year-old wrote. “I had a fight, I fought s***, couldn’t recover, have been out the ring for too long and got beat, end of story.

“I got in there, had a go, failed, and that’s it … full credit to Gallen. Thankyou to the fans, supporters and sponsors, and I do apologise.”

In a separate video on his Instagram page, Browne indicated he was wobbled by a shot to the head.

“I’m not marked up,” he said. “I believe I got hit back of the head, behind the ear and it f***ed up my equilibrium and I basically couldn’t recover,” Browne said.

Paul Gallen puts down Lucas Browne. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Wollongong crowd were left stunned when Browne was dropped twice in the opening round as Gallen peppered him with a flurry of monster strikes to the head.

Despite being 15kg lighter than the former WBA heavyweight champion, Gallen dominated the entire two-minute contest.

The former Cronulla Sharks star dropped his opponent in less than 60 seconds when he landed a punishing left hand to the temple, which resulted in Browne tumbling forwards.

When the fight recommenced, Gallen walked Browne down and had him pinned on the ropes.

Three savage right hands from Gallen dropped Browne a second time, and the referee had no option but to stop the fight.

The State of Origin great risked it all in his blockbuster with Browne – and his legitimacy as a boxing talent, and more importantly his legitimacy as a boxing spectacle, was hammered home with each blow he rained down.

What Gallen said

Paul Gallen enjoyed this one. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Gallen pinned Browne against the ropes. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“I kept saying to myself I can knock him out, and it happened,” Gallen said after the win.

“I’ve been training to be a boxer for eight to 10 months.

“It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to something.

“The more I trained, the more I sparred, the better I became at boxing and it showed tonight.”

Gallen was undefeated from 11 professional fights leading into Wednesday’s bout, but this undeniably goes down as the biggest win of his career.

His extraordinary late career move to boxing has the 39-year-old on track for a multimillion dollar payday this year with a proposal emerging for a Suncorp Stadium showdown against rising star heavyweight Justis Huni.

Full card

Paul Gallen defeated Lucas Browne via TKO, Round 1

Liam Wilson defeated Francis Chua via unanimous decision (98-92 x2, 97-94)

Stevie Spark defeated Jack Brubaker via unanimous decision (80-72, 77-74)

Bruno Tarimo defeated Kye MacKenzie via unanimous decision (97-92, 97-92, 96-93)

Leonardo Zappavigna defeated Danny Kennedy via TKO, Round 3

Tyler Sargent Wilson defeated Steven Rados via majority decision (38-38, 39-37, 40-36)

Jackson Murray defeated Webster Teaupa via TKO, Round 1

Viviana Ruiz Corredor defeated Rebecca Moss via TKO, Round 3