Pat Brown stops John Hedges as Matchroom Boxing delivers in Manchester

Pat Brown continued his perfect start to life as a professional with a sixth-round knockout of John Hedges at Manchester’s Co-op Live on Saturday night.

Headlining Matchroom Boxing’s latest card live on DAZN, the Manchester cruiserweight claimed the vacant British and Commonwealth titles in just his seventh professional fight, moving to 7-0 with seven stoppages.

Hedges presented Brown with a very different challenge to those he had faced during his rapid rise through the professional ranks. The 6ft 6in southpaw used his height and reach well early on, staying mobile and making Brown work to close the distance.

Brown remained patient despite Hedges enjoying success in the opening rounds and gradually began to find a home for his right hand.

By the fifth, the momentum had noticeably shifted. Brown was getting inside more regularly and Hedges was finding it increasingly difficult to keep the heavy-handed Manchester fighter at range.

The breakthrough came in the sixth.

Brown dropped Hedges before immediately going looking for the finish. Hedges made it back to his feet, but another sustained attack followed, with a huge shot to the body sending him back to the canvas.

This time there was no recovery and the fight was waved off, handing Brown the biggest victory of his professional career and two major domestic titles.

Brown has now stopped all seven of his professional opponents, while Hedges suffered the first defeat of his career.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was full of praise for Brown following the victory and even mentioned cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia when discussing his long-term ambitions for the 26-year-old.

“I know what I want to do. I want to stick him in with Jai Opetaia and watch him knock Opetaia spark out,” Hearn told DAZN.

“That’s what I want, but that’s to come. He’s world ranked in every governing body. He’s going to be top five in the world.

“The future is down to Pat Brown. All he’s got to do is keep working like a dog every single day.”

Shabaz Masoud made a comfortable start to life at featherweight as he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Ckari Cani Mansilla.

Masoud entered the contest unbeaten following notable victories over Liam Davies and Peter McGrail at super-bantamweight and quickly settled into his new division.

The 30-year-old controlled much of the fight with his movement and accuracy, while Mansilla continued to push forward without finding enough success to trouble him.

All three judges scored the contest 100-90 in Masoud’s favour, moving him to 16-0 and securing the WBA International and IBF Intercontinental featherweight titles.

Mark Jeffers returned to winning ways with a unanimous decision victory over Kieron Conway in their British super-middleweight title eliminator.

Jeffers started strongly and was particularly effective with his right hand, while Conway gradually worked his way into the contest after a difficult opening few rounds.

The fight became more competitive as it progressed, but Jeffers continued to produce the cleaner work and did enough to see out the victory.

Two judges scored the fight 97-93, with the third returning a 96-94 card, all in favour of Jeffers.

The victory moves Jeffers to 21-2 and puts him in line for a shot at the British super-middleweight title.

Corey O’Regan opened the main card with a convincing unanimous decision victory over Joe Howarth.

Taking the fight on short notice, O’Regan started quickly and used his movement and combinations to establish an early lead.

Howarth continued to press forward and enjoyed more success during the second half of the contest, but struggled to consistently pin down the Yorkshire southpaw.

O’Regan remained the cleaner of the two through ten rounds and was rewarded with scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice.

The victory moves O’Regan to 16-1 and completes a successful night in Manchester.