John Hedges and Pat Brown will meet for the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles on September 19 at Co-op Live in Manchester. The fight will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN and represents the biggest professional test of both men’s careers.
Hedges enters as the reigning English champion and has long been viewed as a leading contender for the Lonsdale Belt. After winning the Southern Area title and later claiming the English championship, the 24-year-old has steadily worked his way toward the biggest domestic fights. “Everyone is counting me out, but I’m here to show them that John Hedges will be the new British champion come September,” Hedges said.
Brown has remained unbeaten since turning professional and now receives his first major domestic title opportunity. A 2024 Olympian for Great Britain, Brown has quickly built a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous young punchers. His latest victory came against Vasil Ducar, when he scored three knockdowns before stopping him in the eighth round to claim the WBA International and IBF Intercontinental titles.
The matchup also brings together two fighters with very different levels of experience. Hedges has already held regional and English titles, while Brown has moved rapidly through the professional ranks following his Olympic campaign. With the British and Commonwealth crowns on the line, both men have a chance to establish themselves as a serious force in the British cruiserweight division. “The Lonsdale Belt is so prestigious, every British boxer wants to take it home, and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing,” Brown said.
