Pat Brown showcased immense power to defeat John Hedges in the sixth round, securing both the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in Manchester. Although Brown began cautiously before a home crowd at the Co-op Live Arena, he found success when he started using his jab effectively.
A heavy left hook to the body sent Hedges to the canvas in the sixth round, and Brown landed the same punch again shortly after to seal the win. The 26-year-old Brown expressed deep emotion about claiming the British title in his hometown, emphasizing that the victory was for his family and supporters.
Brown, maintaining a flawless professional record of seven wins—all by knockout— handed Hedges his first career loss in 13 fights. Originally scheduled to take place in Altrincham, the bout was moved to the larger Co-op Live venue due to high ticket demand, with the 5,000-strong crowd enthusiastically cheering Brown and jeering Hedges.
While Hedges controlled the early rounds using his awkward style and sharp footwork, Brown began shifting momentum in his favor in the fifth by setting up combinations behind his jab, capped by a damaging right uppercut. Brown’s body shot reminiscent of Manchester boxing legend Ricky Hatton—the timing of whose passing was honored earlier—ultimately brought Hedges down for good.
Brown, a family man who walked to the ring alongside his father, had previously stated his goal was simply to “put belts on his dad’s shoulders.” Now, with two more titles in hand, he looks ahead to continuing his career journey, inspired by past British champions like Chris Billam-Smith and Lawrence Okolie who advanced to world titles.
Potential next steps include a bout against European titleholder Viddal Riley, who last fought in April. Brown has even expressed a dream of fighting at Old Trafford—the famous Manchester United stadium—hoping to headline a historic boxing event there, something not seen since the 1993 Chris Eubank vs. Nigel Benn fight.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn shares this dream, envisioning “Pat Brown, world championship, Old Trafford.” Though Brown has more progress ahead before joining the ranks of legends like Hatton, his recent victory signals his growing promise on the cruiserweight scene.
Fan Take:
This victory is a major moment for British cruiserweight boxing, showcasing an exciting new talent ready to make waves on the world stage. For fight fans, Brown’s knockout streak and hometown charisma mark him as a star to watch, potentially revitalizing interest and drawing bigger crowds to the division.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
