Former Olympian Pat Brown will look to register the biggest win of his professional career when he faces fellow unbeaten fighter John Hedges for the vacant British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight titles in Manchester.
The two men will do battle and headline the card at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena in what is a golden opportunity to make a statement in the early stages of their careers.
Brown has a perfect record since stepping into the paid game, but Hedges is an awkward customer and it promises to be a fascinating contest.
Pat Brown v John Hedges Tips Preview
After failing to win a medal at the 2024 Olympics, Brown moved quickly and turned professional with Matchroom Boxing in November 2024.
Brown may have fallen short at the final hurdle of his amateur career, but he still has a solid pedigree and has had no issues adapting to the pro game.
The cruiserweight is a huge fan favourite and he has racked up six wins so far, with all of his fights finishing inside the distance.
Brown made his debut against Federico Javier Grandone in March 2025 and has since beaten Ivan Duka, Lewis Oakford, Austin Nnamdi, Felix Valera and Vasil Ducar.
Despite his inexperience, Brown is considered one of the upcoming stars under the Matchroom banner and his aggressive style and power make him a potential box office star.
Hedges promises to be the hardest challenge of his career, though, and the Essex fighter has also got an unbeaten record to defend.
The 24-year-old is also under the stewardship of Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, having signed a contract with the promoter after winning 40 of his 44 amateur fights.
Hedges made his debut in October 2020 and he is 12-0 with three knockouts to his name. His height and reach make him difficult to hit and the fact that he is a southpaw only makes it harder to beat him.
Only one of Brown's fights has gone past four rounds, but Hedges is arguably the better boxer and he has the better experience ahead of what should be a barnstormer of a bout.
Pat Brown v John Hedges Tale of the Tape
Pat Brown | John Hedges | |
Record: | 6-0 | 12-0 |
Age: | 28 | 24 |
Birthplace: | Manchester, United Kingdom | Harlow, Essex |
Height: | 6' 3" | 6' 6" |
Stance: | Orthodox | Southpaw |
Last Fight: | Won (TKO) Vasil Ducar (April 2026) | Won (UD) Ellis Zorro (December 2025) |
KO%: | 100.00 | 25.00 |
Alias: | N/A | The Gentleman |
Pat Brown v John Hedges Top Tips
Pat Brown to win between Rounds 7-12 @ 15/8
Fight fans often complain when boxers are given an easy ride in the early years of their career, but that is not the case with Brown.
In just his seventh fight, Brown will have to fight someone with more experience, and in fighting a southpaw, he will need to learn how to avoid getting tangled up against the awkward Hedges.
Brown is the overwhelming favourite for this fight, and after six routine knockout wins, it is easy to see why. The former Olympian is often happy to go to work early and let his hands go, but against Hedges he will have to get away from the jab.
At 6'6", Hedges is hard to hit on the chin and his ability to box and move is likely to frustrate Brown.
Brown cannot afford to waste any punches and swing wildly, as it will only make him fatigue down the stretch.
In his first six fights, Brown has been happy to trade blows and he is easy to hit on occasions, but he is unlikely to be fazed by the power of Hedges.
Three knockout wins in 12 fights suggest he is built to box and move, but Brown is relentless and if he can get inside his opponent on a regular basis in the latter stages, he has the power to end the contest.
All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
