Manchester-born Pat Brown continued his perfect professional start with a seventh successive stoppage, handing John Hedges his first defeat in front of a raucous 5,000-strong crowd at East Manchester's Co-op Live. The fight, moved from Altrincham due to ticket demand, saw Hedges take the upper hand in early rounds with awkward footwork and holding. The pendulum swung in the fifth when Brown used his jab to set up combinations, punctuated by a right uppercut.

A Hatton-like rippling left hook to the body sent Hedges crashing to his knees. He beat the count but was sent down again with another blow to the midsection, unable to rise. Brown, who made his ringwalk with his father, said "putting belts on his dad's shoulders" was all that mattered.

He now holds the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles. Promoter Eddie Hearn envisions "Pat Brown, world championship, Old Trafford," referencing the Manchester United stadium that hasn't hosted boxing since 1993. Brown cited Chris Billam-Smith and Lawrence Okolie as examples of British titleholders who won world honours, and could target European champion Viddal Riley next.