Will Marcus Browne step back into the ring in 2021?
At the beginning of 2019, “Sir” Marcus Browne had it all. The 2012 U.S. Olympian light heavyweight and Staten Island native easily defeated Badou “The Ripper” Jack. Furthermore, the victory saw him capture both the WBA Interim/WBC Silver titles, putting him directly on course to face then WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk or WBA ‘regular’ champion Dmitry Bivol.
It was the perfect situation fighters relish having open to them. The former 2012 Olympian’s stock had risen to a whole new level, and the boxing community was waiting to see which champion he would pick to fight.
SUDDEN RISE TO A FAST FALL
Browne was undefeated at that time and he was riding a wave of confidence. He was all set to face veteran former world champion Jean Pascal. It was supposed to have been a showcase fight for Browne. Instead, it turned into a complete disaster. He suffered his first career defeat to a Pascal that turned back the hands of time in schooling the overconfidence titlist and knocking him down three times en route to an upset victory.
Equally Important, the significance of that defeat was immediately felt after the fight. Two months later, the WBA organization elevated then ‘regular’ champion Bivol to full champion status. This also resulted in newly crowned interim champion Pascal’s elevation to ‘regular’ champion.
Browne, to his credit, wanted to run the fight back. However, it never came into fruition and he would spend all of 2020 sitting out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A SILVER LINING AND POSSIBLE RETURN TO GLORY
It is 2021 and the light heavyweight division is on fire. Unified champion Artur Beterbiev is the top dog of the division with the WBA ‘super’ champion Bivol still holding things down. Of course, you can not forget about Joe Smith Jr taking on Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO title on February 13.
Browne must get back into the ring and that may be what happens for the former interim champion. The WBC ordered a fight between former super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez (41-0, 27ko) and the former 2012 Olympian Browne (23-1, 16ko).
The two teams have not been able to come to an agreement as of yet. Furthermore, a purse bid was supposed to have taken place on February 5. As of right now, there is no news as to what has happened but hopefully we will hear something soon.
In any event, Browne is in the perfect position, being ranked #3 by the WBC, to make something big happen this year.
By: Garrisson Bland
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