British cruiserweight prospect Pat Brown looks set for the stiffest test of his career following the release of yesterday’s British Boxing Board of Control circular.
The 26-year-old Mancunian is a novice only in terms of professional rounds. Since turning over in March 2025, the Matchroom Boxing fighter has made a seamless transition from the amateur ranks, where he represented Team GB at the 2024 Olympics, losing in the opening round to Brazil’s Keno Machado.
Since then, Brown has taken to the professional code like the proverbial duck to water. Aggressive, explosive, and fan-friendly, he has raced to six wins from six fights, all inside the distance.
It was after his last outing, a stoppage of experienced Czech Vasil Ducar, that the first real indication of his next move emerged. Having halted the durable veteran in eight rounds, Brown was joined in the DAZN ring for his post-fight interview by English cruiserweight champion John Hedges.
Brown’s ship changes course
Reports prior to that night suggested Hedges had turned down an opportunity to face Brown on April 3, which initially cast doubt over the fight being revisited when the pair came face-to-face. Brown himself claimed that the “ship had sailed,” reluctant to hand the English champion a potential headline slot on DAZN. Though his stance softened as the exchange continued, it still felt as though persuasion would be required.
Yesterday’s Board circular, however, told a different story.
‘Following agreement being reached between the parties, the mandatory defence contest to be promoted by Eddie Hearn will take place on a date and at a venue to be advised.’
For traditionalists, it offers encouragement that Brown may yet follow the well-trodden domestic route — collecting British titles before graduating to the world stage. It’s a path his trainer Jamie Moore once walked, capturing British, Commonwealth and European honours at light-middleweight between 2003 and 2008.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, though, is unlikely to have much interest in a drawn-out apprenticeship. Brown is already emerging as a ticket-seller, and the long-term vision appears to stretch beyond cruiserweight and towards heavyweight ambition.
Hedges claimed the English title with a 10-round decision over Nathan Quarless last May, before enhancing his credentials with a win in December against former Jai Opetaia opponent Ellis Zorro — his first bout following the passing of coach Ricky Hatton.
Unlike Brown, power is not Hedges’ calling card, with three knockouts in 12 fights. But the unbeaten 23-year-old southpaw shapes as the most polished boxer Brown has faced so far. He is unlikely to engage in a shootout, instead leaning on fundamentals in an attempt to blunt Brown’s aggression — a classic boxer versus puncher match-up.
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