What to Know
- Pat Brown knocked out John Hedges to win the vacant British and Commonwealth championship in just his seventh professional fight on Saturday in Manchester, England.
- Brown, who also defends his WBA/IBF International belts along with the Lonsdale Belt, gives Hedges his first loss.
- Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn is calling for Jai Opetaia in Brown’s future.
The late Ricky Hatton would be proud of Pat Brown and his performance in the main event in Manchester, England on Saturday.
Swiftly rising cruiserweight division talent Brown (7-0, 7 KOs), a member of Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympics, took down John Hedges of Essex (12-1, 3 KOs) with a vicious body shot worthy of Hatton himself in front of his hometown crowd in Manchester.
Brown is now the British and Commonwealth champion and holder of the coveted Lonsdale Belt, which he must now defend. He also defended his WBA and IBF International belts.
Brown immediately put himself on the fast track toward a world title in the highly competitive cruiserweight division.
Spirit of Ricky Hatton in Manchester
Hatton’s spirit was alive and deeply felt in Manchester on Saturday by both fighters and fans. Brown trained as a young man in Manchester alongside Hatton. Hatton’s longtime strength coach and nutritionist Kerry Kayes is now a member of Team Brown.
When Hedges split from his trainer in 2025, he moved to Manchester to train at Hatton’s Gym in Hyde. Notably, Hatton never charged the young man for training him, believing in his potential.
Assessing his victory, Brown said, “Obviously Ricky would have been here. He would have been proud. So everyone, give a round of applause for him. And it’s nice that I did it with a body shot as well in memory of him.”
While Brown said before the fight he was ready for a shootout, his amateur pedigree served him well in his game plan as he sized up Hedges. Brown showed respect for Hedges, losing early rounds as he worked patiently to box him and break him down.
“Like I said all week, I can’t just go bulldozing in with him. People think you can’t box. Obviously, the opposition I’ve been in with, I’ve not had to. Whereas with a style like that, you’ve got to work them out. And I’ve had a lot of amateur fights. I’ve been in with them sort of styles in order to get around the puzzle,” explained Brown.
“And with John, you’re not going to get him out of there straight away, because he’ll just make you miss and make you look silly. That’s why it was a patient performance tonight, and I’m glad that the crowd was patient with me until it really got started going.”
Pat Brown Patient Early, Then Closes The Show
In the fifth round, Brown increased the tempo, adding power punches. Hedges started to show the effects of Brown picking him apart. In the sixth round, Brown landed a picture-perfect left hook to the body, an electrifying punch. Hedges got up, and Brown repeated the winning punch. This time, the fight was over at 2:36 of the round.
Brown had nothing but compliments for his opponent.
“He’s been a gentleman, like he is. He’s a top man, and tell you what, all what he’s done in the build-up, he’s got a right set of knackers on him,” said Brown. “So everyone, give a round of applause to him. He’s a proper man, and that’s why the build-up. They’ve done such a great theme around it because it really is two gentlemen going at it. You know, I didn’t want to say bad words about him. I know a proper man when I see one, and he certainly is.”
Hedges had nothing but compliments for Brown in return. “Listen, he’s a big puncher. I feel that way myself. I think like I could have done a lot better. Pat, this is his night,” said Hedges. Still just 24 years old, Hedges vowed he’d be back. “Listen, I just said to Eddie (Hearn), I don’t want no easy fights. Get me back in the mix. I’ll prove myself.
“I’ve said it before the fight. I think Pat’s going to go on and be a very good fighter. This man is your next cruiserweight world champion within the next eight months,” declared Hedges.
“It’s not a hard job because he fights so well, said Brown’s trainer Jamie Moore. “It’s going to be an exciting journey.
Moore said Brown may be facing elbow surgery and had the other normal nagging issues from sparring and training, but said despite these issues he performed as well as could be expected.
Pat Brown Salutes His Manchester Fans
Brown took a moment to recognize his hometown fans, and someone special to him in his late cousin Ross, who died unexpectedly just prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics due to epilepsy. Remembering Ross, Brown let his emotions show.
“I’ve had a childhood with them all (the fans), and then I’ve had to go off grid because I’m always training, and they’ve always stayed behind me. Then when I have a break off Christmas, I’m always out with them, and I love it. I’m so blessed to have them, and they all know that me and me dad are salt of the earth. We’ll never change, no matter what.
“So all this is for them and for the Ross man, my cousin who I love very dearly. I said to him, I said to him, when I see it in there, I told him I’ll do it for him. I said, ‘I’ll go all the way, and I’m going to do that.’ I promised him, and I fucking will,” said Brown.
Eddie Hearn: What I Want Pat Brown To Do
It doesn’t take much for Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn to express his enthusiasm about a prospect’s future. But he was full of a special energy speaking about his cruiserweight Brown, calling him a dangerous fighter and the biggest puncher in the division. Mind you, this is a division that also contains Jai Opetaia and David Benavidez, along with Zurdo Ramirez.
“You saw the tribute to Ricky Hatton. When was the last time that Manchester in this area had a fighter like this with this kind of dynamite in his hands, that can go out and be in big fights and bring them back to this city? I believe Pat Brown is that guy.
“You know what I want him to do? I want to stick him in there and see him knock Jai Opetaia spark out at Old Trafford. That’s what I want. But that’s to come.
“He’s seven fights in. He’s British champion. He’s Commonwealth champion. He’s world-ranked across every governing body. He’s going to be top five in the world. The future is down to Pat Brown. All he’s got to do is just keep working like a dog every single day.
“If there was ever someone that fights for his people, it’s Pat Brown, and all he wants to do is give you guys value for money. All he wants to do is bring world championships and big nights to you.”
It’s hard not to get swept up in such enthusiasm. But let’s remind ourselves the same sort of enthusiasm was swirling around Moses Itauma just a few weeks ago. Brown deserves his opportunity to develop his skills, but the future certainly seems promising. He is a welcome addition to one of the best cruiserweight division talent pools in many years.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
