MANCHESTER — Pat Brown headlines at Co-op Live on Saturday with the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles on the line against undefeated Essex-born John Hedges, as the Manchester-born Team GB Olympian looks to accelerate his fast-growing professional reputation. The 26-year-old, who featured at the 2024 Games in Paris, enters 6-0 with six stoppages, four inside two rounds, while Hedges is unbeaten in 12 fights in what Brown calls the toughest test of his short career.
"It's a journey, I want to look back on my career and have the memories," Brown told BBC Sport. "It's a lovely belt and people say it's better than a world title because of the history and the way it looks. As long as I can put it on my dad's shoulders and show it to my family, then that's all I care about. I want to keep putting massive nights on for people and, whether that's boxing at world level or this level, it makes no odds to me."
Hedges represents a step up, but Brown pointed to the grounding influence of his father. "That's to keep me humble. You can't go thinking you're the bee's knees all the time," he said, recalling his father's warning that there's "always someone harder around the corner." Brown added: "I wouldn't be in this game if I didn't think I could fight anyone. I'll always get in the ring with anyone; that's the way my dad built me. If I feared someone in the sport, then it's not for me. I'll just walk away." The bout was originally scheduled for Planet Ice in Altrincham, where Brown previously drew 2,000 fans on a Friday night and headlined on his debut, but demand forced a move to the larger Co-op Live. Around 300 fans had turned out when Matchroom officially announced his signing in 2024.
"Altrincham will always have a place in my heart, especially with people moaning how cold it is in there," Brown said. With Old Trafford visible behind him as he spoke to BBC Sport, the Manchester United supporter outlined a bigger ambition. The stadium has not hosted boxing since Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn's unification bout ended in a draw in 1993, though Katie Taylor's spectacular Croke Park send-off on 5 September showed barriers can be broken. "Ever since I was a kid, I've been there," Brown said. "My house was only 15 minutes away from Old Trafford. If I could ever headline there, it would be a dream come true. That means more to me than belts. If I could headline at Old Trafford and walk out with all the people there loving it, that would mean everything."
Brown is aware British boxing is craving its next star with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury in the twilight of their careers, and Manchester has a history of backing its own, most famously Ricky Hatton. "It's nice, but I never look at it and crave it," Brown said. "People will either like me or they won't. I'm never going to change, so if it comes and the country is getting behind me, that's brilliant."