Pat Brown stops John Hedges to win British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles

Pat Brown broke down John Hedges with a sustained body attack to win the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.

Brown dropped Hedges twice in the sixth round, with referee Reece Carter counting out the 6ft 6ins southpaw at 2:36. The 26-year-old from Sale improved to 7-0 with seven stoppages, while Hedges suffered his first professional defeat and fell to 12-1 (3 KOs).

The fight had been moved from Altrincham to Co-op Live because of ticket demand, and a crowd of around 5,000 gave Brown strong backing. Hedges was booed on his entrance but settled more quickly, using his reach, movement and counter left hand to frustrate the local favourite.

Brown pressed from the opening bell but initially struggled to cut off the ring. Hedges’ footwork and timely holding prevented him from sustaining his attacks, while Carter warned Brown for using his head and forearm during the physical exchanges at close quarters.

The contest began to turn in the fifth round. Brown worked more consistently behind his jab and started to find the range for his right hand, with an uppercut rocking Hedges late in the session. Hedges held on and reached the bell, but his movement had begun to slow under Brown’s pressure.

Brown switched his attack downstairs in the sixth, driving a left hook into Hedges’ ribs and sending him to his knees. Hedges beat the count, only to be dropped again by another heavy body shot. This time he was unable to rise before Carter reached 10.

“Like I said, I can’t go bulldozing him. People think I can’t box. Obviously with the opposition I’ve been it with I’ve not had to,” Brown said. “With a style like that, you’ve got to work them out. I’ve had a lot of amateur fights. I’ve been in with them sort of styles. I know how to get around the puzzle.

“With John, you’re not gonna 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.”

The victory carried added emotion during the week of the first anniversary of Ricky Hatton’s death. Hatton had trained Hedges and also had close ties to Brown’s family and the Sale West amateur gym, where Brown began boxing at the age of seven.

Referring to Hatton’s trademark body punching, Brown said: “I finished him with a body shot in memory of him.”

Brown, who walked to the ring with his father, also dedicated the victory to his family and cousin Ross.

“I don’t care about all of the belts, it’s for my family and my people,” he said. “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.”

Masoud and Jeffers win on undercard

Shabaz Masoud returned from a nine-month absence with a unanimous 10-round decision over Argentina’s Ckari Cani Mansilla. All three judges scored the featherweight contest 100-90 after Masoud controlled the fight with his southpaw left hand, although he rarely threatened to force a stoppage.

Mark Jeffers moved closer to a British super-middleweight title opportunity by outpointing Kieron Conway over 10 rounds. Jeffers won 97-93 on two cards and 96-94 on the third, responding to Conway’s late rally by finishing strongly.

Cory O’Regan claimed the English lightweight title after stepping in when Josh Holmes withdrew through injury. O’Regan defeated Joe Howarth by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice.