Editorial
The video footage is clearly taken on a mobile of a man as he was walking along.
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"I'm looking for to the next week to finalise everything ...," the man says as his voice trails off.
Then his eyes look directly into the camera and the tone of voice changes. It's an ominous tone. Deep and foreboding.
The kind of voice you wouldn't think was out of place on a voiceover for a Halloween movie trailer.
"... and then SSSSSSMMMMMMMAAAAAASSSSSHHHHHHHH," the voice says with not a hint of violence, but a direct intent.
The face with the sunken eyes and the tattoos staring down the camera is that of former world champion boxer Lucas Browne.
The man they call "Big Daddy'' posted the video on his social media this week in the lead-up to a main event bout in Wollongong next week with former rugby league great Paul Gallen.
The fight night at the WIN Entertainment Centre will be beamed around the nation on Wednesday night.
The bout between a bona fide boxing behemoth and a league player turned pugilist will be keenly watched by sports fans eager to see whether Gallen can stand what will be his biggest test yet. Quite literally.
Like most boxing contests, there is an element in the theatre in some of the pre-fight promotion.
However, if you have seen the video footage of Browne belting the living suitcase out of the boxing bags in his training, it's a stark reminder this is ultimately a serious scenario.
If you watch those videos you can almost hear the punching bags screaming in sheer terror, punch after devastating punch.
If you watch those videos it's hard to be concerned for Paul Gallen's health and wellbeing.
You can only hope Paul Gallen wakes up on Thursday and still has a head on his shoulders.
All we can say is ... "Good luck Mr Gallen".
The Illawarra Mercury is giving digital subscribers an opportunity to purchase a special discounted ticket or win one of 10 ringside seats. If you are a digital subscriber check your emails on Saturday.
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