Brown maintains perfect record with brutal Hedges stoppage

Pat Brown and John Hedges have their hands up as they fight

Image source, MatchroomImage caption,

Pat Brown represented Team GB at the 2024 Olympics

ByCharlotte CoatesBBC Sport journalist at Co-op Live, Manchester

Published18 minutes ago

Pat Brown displayed destructive power to stop John Hedges in the sixth round and claim the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in Manchester.

Brown started slowly in front of a home crowd at Co-op Live Arena but was rewarded when he got behind his jab.

A thudding left hook to the body dropped Hedges in round six and he landed the same shot moments later to wrap up victory.

An emotional Brown, 26, spoke of how "special" it was to win the British title in his hometown.

"I don't care about all of the belts, it's for my family and my people," Brown said on DAZN.

"I've had a childhood with them all but I had to go off-grid to train and they've always stayed behind me.

"And for Ross - my cousin, who I love dearly - I said to him I would go all the way and I will."

Brown extends his perfect professional record to seven victories, with each of those coming via knockout, while Hedges lost for the first time in his 13-fight pro career.

Dreams of Old Trafford - Brown targets British title and famous nights
- Published1 day ago

Altrincham to Co-op Live

This fight was originally set to take place in Altrincham, but Matchroom made the switch to East Manchester's Co-op Live because of ticket demands.

And the 5,000-strong crowd made themselves heard when Brown entered the ring first, followed by a chorus of boos for Essex fighter Hedges.

Chants of 'Oh Patrick the Bomber' and 'Sale' rang around the arena as Hedges took the upper hand in the opening rounds with his awkward style.

Brown looked for ways to set up his heavy power-punches, but Hedges' sharp footwork and holding at the right time nullified the threat.

The pendulum started to swing in Brown's favour in the fifth when he began using his jab to set up combinations, with a right uppercut punctuating the round.

Hedges paid tribute to Manchester icon Ricky Hatton at the weigh-in after the first anniversary of his death passed on 14 September.

And it was a Hatton-like rippling left hook to the body from Brown that sent Hedges crashing to his knees.

Hedges beat the count but was sent tumbling back down to the canvas with another blow to the midsection - this time he was unable to pull himself back to his feet.

Family man Brown, who made his ringwalk with his father, had previously said "putting belts on his dad's shoulders" was all that mattered.

He left with two more tonight.

Brown to go on the boxing 'journey'

Pat Brown holding the British title in the air

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Pat Brown is the first boxer to defeat John Hedges as a professional

After Moses Itauma and Conor Benn both experienced losses when skipping the British title route and heading straight for world title glory, Brown said he wants to go on the "journey".

Chris Billam-Smith and Lawrence Okolie are two examples of those who have recently held the British cruiserweight title and gone on to win world honours.

Brown now holds the British and Commonwealth titles, and it makes sense to target European title holder Viddal Riley.

The 29-year-old last fought in April when he secured a unanimous points decision win over world title challenger Mateusz Masternak.

When speaking to BBC Sport on Wednesday, the view of Old Trafford - the home of his beloved Manchester United - sat in the background.

Not since 1993, when Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn's unification bout ended in a draw, has the stadium hosted a boxing match.

Brown said one day headlining at Old Trafford would mean more to him than belts.

Most importantly, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn sees the vision: "Pat Brown, world championship, Old Trafford. I see it."

Brown still has a long way to go if he's to be mentioned in the same breath as former world champion Hatton, but he's used his latest opportunity to make his mark.