Pat Brown marches on, stops John Hedges in six

MANCHESTER, England – Pat Brown claimed the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles with a sixth-round finish of John Hedges at Manchester’s Co-op LIVE.

The hard hitting Brown was fighting for just the seventh time as a professional after stopping each of his last six foes inside the distance. Hedges, a six-foot-six southpaw from Essex, was seen as a solid test for Brown, but it did not turn out that way.

However, Hedges, 12-1 (3 KOs), proved a tricky customer in the early stages, using his long leavers to keep away from Brown’s aggressive attacks. Even so, once the legs of Hedges started to slow, Brown’s shots started to land, and it wasn't long before Hedges was on his back. The finishing shot – a left hook to the midsection – came at two minutes and 36 seconds of round six.

Following the contest, Brown paid tribute to the late Ricky Hatton, a local hero and former trainer of Hedges, on the week that marked one year since his tragic death.

“I finished him with a body shot in memory of him,” said Brown, pointing to Hatton’s famous trademark attacks.

There was a crowd of 5,000 made up entirely of Brown’s fans that had made the short trip from Sale, England, to watch their man fight for the famous Lonsdale Belt.

Brown, with his home support behind him, started aggressively, pressing the action and man-handling Hedges as he backed onto the ropes. Brown, 26, was warned for his conduct and it wouldn’t be the last time.

Hedges, 24, first tasted Brown’s power early into the second. A right hand thudded into his shoulder, and Hedges seemed a little wary to engage.

Hedges was moving well around the ring and Brown could not hide his frustration as he tried, and failed, to cut off the ring. Hedges was starting to land shots, too, a looping left hand being the pick of the bunch.

Brown made his first real dent in Hedges midway through the fifth session when a right hand forced Hedges to retreat to the corner. Hedges stuck out his tongue and waved Brown on, who willingly obliged. Brown pressed forwards and cracked Hedges with a right uppercut that shook Hedges to his boots, but Brown failed to capitalize. Hedges held on well, and Brown let out his frustration by shoving his head into Hedges neck as the pair wrestled center ring. Brown was given a final warning for use of the head.

It seemed only a matter of time before Brown would land something heavy and Hedges would hit the canvas heading into the round six, and that is exactly what happened.

A left hook from Brown belted into Hedges ribs, sending him down to his knees, Hedges climbed to his feet, but Brown found a home for his left hand to Hedges’ midsection again, and sent him back down to the canvas.

Hedges, wincing in pain, failed to beat the referee Reece Carter’s '10' count.

Brown, now 7-0 (7 KOs), certainly looks an exciting prospect, but tougher tests lie ahead.