John Hedges went deep behind enemy lines and entered the ‘lion’s den’ in Manchester, England as he met rival Pat Brown at his local for a lively Face-Off. The undefeated cruiserweights collide on Saturday, September 19th at Co-op Live – live worldwide on DAZN – for the vacant British and Commonwealth titles. And Essex boy Hedges warmed up for their huge showdown with an away day to Brown’s home turf in Sale, where he was met by a cauldron of noise generated by a partisan crowd at Early Doors in Sale. Cheered on by his vocal faithful, Paris 2024 Olympian Brown promised to deliver a night they will remember for a long time and win his first major championship since turning professional over a year ago.

 

Brown (6-0, 6 KOs) said: “This is why I box [for his fans]. All of these people have followed me since I was a kid when I had my first fight at 11 years of age. I cannot wait for September 19th. “All this A-side, B-side stuff. I don’t care. All I care about is a K and an O. The British title is on the line and here we are. We are going to get it on in front of all these people like Donkey Kong. This is true Manchester, and that’s all I care about. I’m a true Manc, born and bread. And this is the sort of fight this city needs.”

 

But the ‘Gentleman’ Hedges insisted he is coming to Manchester to silence the crowd and take the belts back home to Takeley next month. Hedges said: “This is nice for me. It might sound mad because I’m coming in here and getting booed. But you’re all good, working class people and I love the buzz. This is what I’m about. “I have had 12 fights and had 12 wins. I knew this was going to be in Manchester because it makes sense. And I know I will turn up on September 19 at Co-op Live and get the job done.”

 

Hedges was joined by his manager Adam Morallee, who reminded Team Brown that his man has not lost a fight since he was an amateur at the age of 15. Morallee said: “John hasn’t lost a fight since the age of 15. He doesn’t know how to lose. You are scared.”

 

However, Brown’s boxing advisor Sam Jones was unfazed and insisted his man will be roared to victory this September. Jones said: “Pat wins. And once Pat wins in the fashion we all believe he will do, then we can all go out for a nice dinner afterwards.”

 

You can watch the Face-Off – hosted by SJA Award winning broadcaster, Jamie Ward – in full at midday (BST) today, live on Matchroom Boxing’s official YouTube channel.

 

Tickets for September 19th at Co-op Live are on sale now.