Marcus Browne

Early career

Browne made his professional boxing debut at the age of 21, on November 9, 2012 on Friday night as part of a Golden Boy Promotions card. The fight took place at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California against 33 year old Codale Ford (2-0) in a scheduled 4-round bout. Also on the undercard were future prospects making their professional debuts including Dominic Breazeale, Terrell Gausha, Errol Spence Jr and Rau'shee Warren. Browne won the fight via technical knockout in round 3, overcoming Ford's awkward style. Browne fought again a month later in December producing a first-round knockout win over Ritchie Cherry on the undercard of Amir Khan vs. Carlos Molina.

Browne fought a total of six times in 2013, which was his first full year as a professional. He won all six fight, with five of them coming inside the distance. He was taken the 8-round distance against Lamont Williams (5-1-1, 2 KOs) and won the scorecards that read (79-72, 79-72, 76-75). Browne began to fight regularly at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

On April 19, 2014, Browne was scheduled to fight at the DC Armory in Washington against 36 year old former USBA light heavyweight champion Otis Griffin (24-15-2, 10 KOs). This was his biggest challenge at the time, stepping up in competition. Prior to the fight, Griffin was on a 5-fight losing streak. In round 5, Browne dropped Griffin following a straight left, however Griffin beat the count and took Browne the 8-round distance for the second time in his career. Browne won a shutout decision on the scorecards (80-71, 3 times). The fight took place on Shawn Porter's IBF welterweight title defence against Paulie Malignaggi.

Browne's next big challenge came in August 2014 against 36 year old Paul Vasquez (10-5-1, 3 KOs) at the Barclays Center. Browne won the fight via stoppage after 28 seconds into the opening round. In December 2014, Browne fght at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California against 40 year old veteran George Blades (23-6, 16 KOs). Blades was a late replacement and weighed 196.6 pounds, nearly 20 pounds heavier than the contracted weight limit. Browne was originally scheduled to fight Henry Buchanan, who pulled out after suffering an injury in training. The fight was also dropped from being televised. Browne, despite being heavily outweighed, won the fight via first round stoppage victory.

On April 11, 2015 Browne was matched with 36 year old Aaron Pryor Jr. (19-7-1, 12 KOs), son of hall of famer former Lineal light welterweight champion Aaron Pryor. The fight took place in front of 12,300 fans at the Barclays Center on the undercard of Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson. Pryor Jr. retired on his stool at the end of round 6, giving Browne his 11th stoppage win in 14 professional fights.

A month later, on May 29, Browne fought again at the Barclays Arena on the Amir Khan vs. Chris Algieri undercard. His opponent, considered as his best opponent to date was Cornelius White (21-3, 16 KOs). White had lost his last two fights via stoppage, against Sergey Kovalev and Thomas Wiliams Jr., the latter who he fought in January 2014. In the fifth round, both fighters tumbled to the canvas. Browne used his fast hands and outworked White in most rounds, who moved well enough to survive the full ten rounds, but he was in survival mode the last three rounds. Browne went ten rounds for the first time, winning a clear unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92).

Four months later in September, Browne fought Spanish boxer and former WBA light heavyweight champion Gabriel Campillo (25-7-1, 12 KOs) at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Campillo was dropped twice in the first round, the second time, the count was waived giving Browne his 8th first round stoppage win. Browne returned again three months later in December against Mexican boxer and former IBO world super middleweight title challenger Francisco Sierra (26-9-1, 23 KOs). The fight took place at the Barclays Center on the Daniel Jacobs vs. Peter Quillin WBA middleweight title fight undercard. Browne controlled the fight from the opening bell, eventually stopping Sierra in round 4 via technical knockout.

Browne vs. Kalajdzic

It was announced that Browne would challenge for his first title, the vacant WBC USNBC light heavyweight title on April 16, 2016 against fellow undefeated 25 year old Radivoje Kalajdzic (25-0, 14 KOs) at the Barclays Center in an 8-round bout. The fight was originally scheduled for 10 rounds, but was cut to 8, minutes before the fight started, due the main event following on. At the time of the fight, Browne was ranked number 7 by the WBA and number 13 by the WBC. Browne won the via a controversial split decision at the end of 8 rounds. Two judges scored the fight 76-74 and 76-75 in favour of Browne, whilst the third judge scored it 76-74 for Kalajdzic. There was controversy from the first round when Kalajdzic fell to the canvas. Browne was credited with the knockdown, although he never threw a punch. Referee Tony Chiarantano was stood behind Browne, most likely misjudged the decision to count the knockdown. In the replay, it shows that Browne landed a punch whilst Kalajdzic slipped. Browne was also dropped in the sixth round. Both fighters claimed they had won in the post fight press conference. A rematch, according to promoter Lou DiBella, was discussed. With the win, Browne won the vacant title.

The next day, Kalajdzic hit out at Browne, calling for a rematch, "I don't see how I lost. I was the aggressor. I showed my heart. If he feels like he beat me, give me the rematch." Browne later stated that he would not be giving Kalajdzic a rematch.

Browne vs. Williams Jr.

On February 18, 2017 Browne defeated former world title challenger Thomas Williams Jr., who lost his second consecutive fight. Williams was knocked down three times and eventually stopped in round 6 of the scheduled 10 round bout. The fight took place at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. A the time of stoppage, Browne was ahead on all three judges scorecards (49-43, 3 times), with Browne being deducted a point for hitting Williams after knocking him down with a jab. The referee counted to ten but quickly realized his error and gave Williams five minutes to recover and still counting the knockdown and taking the point. Browne earned a purse of $65,000 whilst Williams received the smaller amount of $35,000. Following the fight, Browne called out WBC and Lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, who had previously knocked out Williams.

Browne vs. Monaghan

On May 23, 2017 it was announced that Browne would fight 35 year old Sean Monaghan (28-0, 17 KOs) at the renovated Nassau Coliseaum in Uniondale, New York on July 15, 2017. Original plans for was for Monaghan to challenge WBC and Lineal champion Adonis Stevenson, however he decided to fight Andrzej Fonfara instead. This was the first boxing event scheduled at the Coliseum since March 1986, which was headlined by Mike Tyson. Browne won the fight via second round technical knockout. He started off the quicker of the two and it only took him 30 seconds into the first round following a straight left. Browne continued at the same pace in the second round landing a right hook which pushed Monaghan back. Browne then landed numerous punches unanswered whilst Monaghan was against the ropes. Referee Steve Willis immediately stepped in to stop the fight. Browne praised his good friend Monaghan in the post fight, "I want thank Sean for giving me the opportunity and taking the fight {...} This is a guy I got love for, but I just had to take care of business." He also called out WBC champion Adonis Stevenson. According to Compubox stats, Browne landed 42 of 105 punches thrown (40%), whist Monaghan only landed 9 of 52 thrown (17%).