Arsene Fosso is hellbent on sending Lucas Browne to the canvas as the adopted Canberran calls out the former world champion for reneging on their heavyweight blockbuster.
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Browne was supposed to face Fosso in Canberra in April before taking on emerging star Justis Huni in July, as part of a two-fight deal with Dean Lonergan's D&L Events.
But now the 41-year-old is set to face former NRL star Paul Gallen after promoters No Limit caved into Lonergan's demands of a $100,000 fee to release Browne from the contract.
Browne's fight with Gallen is locked in for April 21 in Wollongong, while Fosso instead sets his sights on a potential date with Faiga 'Django' Opelu broadcast live on Fox Sports on April 23 at Exhibition Park in Canberra's Coorong Pavilion.
Opelu is the man Justis Huni dethroned to claim the Australian heavyweight championship. Now Fosso wants to stop him in his tracks before setting his sights on Browne once more.
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Browne was lashed by Capital Fight Promotions matchmaker Adam Lovelock when he began pushing for a fight with Gallen, with Lovelock saying Browne's "word means nothing".
It can be revealed Fosso suffered from glandular fever in the lead up to his last start loss to Huni, and now he wants to make a statement in his return. Should a bout with Browne eventuate later, he is determined to knock him out.
"Of course, bro, of course, because he was talking shit," Fosso said.
"He was saying 'Fosso won three fights via knockout but I don't know what opponents he had to be knocking them out'.
"I said 'Okay, if you don't believe in me it doesn't matter, you're going to see it in the ring'. I don't know if, after my fight in April, if we're going to go back to him or another opponent.
"He was just talking on social media, saying 'Fosso, I'm going to beat him in April'. Okay, let's get it bro. Let's see who is the best.
"Then last time, I don't know, he started talking to Paul Gallen, saying 'Paul Gallen, I need you, I'm going to fight you, let's make this fight happen'. Okay. They're going to fight in April.
"After I fight Django, I'm going to go back to him."
Promoters privately wonder how different Fosso might have performed against Huni if not for a bout of glandular fever which derailed his preparation for their clash in Brisbane last December.
Now Fosso has returned to training at the Stockade Training Centre in preparation for a bout at Exhibition Park's Coorong Pavilion in less than two months, with the card set to be headlined by rising star Brock Jarvis.
Australian middleweight champion Issac Hardman is also set to feature against Mark Lucas, while Ben Dencio and TC Priestley lock horns in a national super featherweight title rematch.
"I got glandular fever while I was preparing for my last fight and I didn't know," Fosso said.
"My body was feeling tired, I talked to [coach Garry Hamilton] and said 'my body isn't feeling right and I don't know why'. I was just feeling my energy go down.
"We tried everything but I still felt tired. I was sick. After the fight I was just sick, so I went to hospital and they told me I had glandular fever.
"It was true, because when I was training, my body wasn't feeling good in November when I was preparing to fight. I still had to fight, it was difficult for me.
"With Huni, I used to spar with him. Last February when he was preparing for the qualification for the Olympics, I went to Queensland and for one week I was sparring with him.
"I am going back to the gym slowly just to see how my body will react, because I have been off for two months. They gave me time off for two months.
"I'm very excited to get back into the ring. I have to give the promoters something to show them in my fight with Justis I was not at my full energy."
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