Brown maintains perfect record with brutal Hedges stoppage

Pat Brown displayed destructive power to stop John Hedges in the sixth round and claim the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles in Manchester.

Brown started slowly in front of a home crowd at Co-op Live Arena but was rewarded when he got behind his jab.

A thudding left hook to the body dropped Hedges in round six and he landed the same shot moments later to wrap up victory.

An emotional Brown, 26, spoke of how "special" it was to win the British title in his hometown.

"I don't care about all of the belts, it's for my family and my people," Brown said on DAZN.

"I've had a childhood with them all but I had to go off-grid to train and they've always stayed behind me.

"And for Ross - my cousin, who I love dearly - I said to him I would go all the way and I will."

Brown extends his perfect professional record to seven victories, with each of those coming via knockout, while Hedges lost for the first time in his 13-fight pro career.

This fight was originally set to take place in Altrincham, but Matchroom made the switch to East Manchester's Co-op Live because of ticket demands.

And the 5,000-strong crowd made themselves heard when Brown entered the ring first, followed by a chorus of boos for Essex fighter Hedges.

Chants of 'Oh Patrick the Bomber' and 'Sale' rang around the arena as Hedges took the upper hand in the opening rounds with his awkward style.

Brown looked for ways to set up his heavy power-punches, but Hedges' sharp footwork and holding at the right time nullified the threat.

The pendulum started to swing in Brown's favour in the fifth when he began using his jab to set up combinations, with a right uppercut punctuating the round.

Hedges paid tribute to Manchester icon Ricky Hatton at the weigh-in after the first anniversary of his death passed on 14 September.