By Michael Tomalaris

Lucas Browne is the self-proclaimed 'Big Daddy' of world boxing.

Unheralded and virtually unknown outside the Australian boxing fraternity last week, the father of three is enjoying a meteoric rise despite being a relative newcomer to the sport.

Browne is the first Australian to win a world heavyweight title after defeating Uzbek opponent Ruslan Chagaev in Chechnya last Sunday morning.

“I always had dreams of becoming a heavyweight champion watching Mike Tyson, and now it’s happened so I’m happy,” Browne said after flying into Sydney Airport following his triumph.

The fight was stopped in the 10th round, but not before Browne himself was floored by Chagaev in a sixth round knockdown.

Few thought he would claw his way back, and his comeback has been likened to a scene from a Rocky movie.

According to boxing journalist Paul Upham, Browne’s reaction was one of the best during his many years watching the fight scene.

“The surprise was the way he won it. No-one expected him to get up off the canvas," said Upham.

"In round six he looked gone. He had the cut over the left eye, he was lucky to get out of round six.”

Browne suffered cuts to his face and head, and lost a tooth en route to his finest sporting achievement.

“I wasn’t looking for the KO (knockout) but when I did land that shot and he went down, I knew I had to go in for the kill,” said Browne .

He silenced what was a buoyant capacity crowd in the stadium in the Chechen capital Grozny.

They included the Chagaev’s biggest sponsor and supporter – the President of Uzbekistan, who walked out immediately after the bout in disappointment.

“Everyone was there for Chagaev. My corner went bananas and I had to tell them to calm down out of respect because we were the only ones making noise,” said Browne.

Browne is hoping to capitalise on his victory, but predicts he has just four years in the sport as a result of his relative mature age.

Many say he has the qualities to inspire a new generation of boxers.

“He’s going to carry Australian boxing over the next two or three years," said Paul Upham.

“We don’t know how good he can be. He hasn’t lost yet – he’s still undefeated and if he keeps improving he can put himself in a position to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.”

Browne plans to meet either Ukraine boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko or British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to contest the unified world heavyweight crown.