John Hedges honours Ricky Hatton at weigh-in before Pat Brown title fight
John Hedges stepped onto the scales wearing his old trainer's face.
The 24-year-old from Essex wore a T-shirt printed with images of Ricky Hatton at the weigh-in for his fight with Pat Brown in Manchester, the day before the pair meet for the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles BBC Sport. Both men then weighed in at 14st 3lb (90kg) at New Century Hall on 18 September.
Hatton was Hedges' trainer. The Manchester favourite was a two-weight world champion, which means he held world titles in two different weight divisions, before retiring from boxing in 2012 and moving into coaching. He was found dead at his home in Manchester in September 2025 at the age of 46.
That loss still shapes this fight. Hedges left trainer Mark Tibbs and moved to Manchester at the start of 2025 to work with Hatton. He won the English cruiserweight title in May 2025 with Hatton in his corner. He has said he wishes Hatton was here to see him fight Brown in Manchester BoxingScene.
Fight week has fallen almost exactly a year after Hatton's death. Both Hedges and Brown have paid tribute to him in the build-up to Saturday's main event.
The boxing could hardly be more evenly poised. Hedges is unbeaten in 12 professional fights, with three wins by knockout. Brown has won all six of his professional bouts by knockout, which is when the referee stops the fight because an opponent cannot safely continue, and he represented Team GB at the 2024 Olympics.
They meet for two belts. The British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles are domestic and Commonwealth-level championships for fighters weighing up to 200lb, a proven step below world level and often the route to bigger fights. Neither man has held them before.
Demand has pushed the show into a bigger room. The card was moved from Planet Ice in Altrincham to the Co-op Live arena in Manchester because of ticket sales. Hedges v Brown tops the bill on Saturday, 19 September, and will be broadcast live on DAZN DAZN.
For fans, this means a genuine pick-'em fight with an emotional edge. Hedges brings experience and rhythm over 12 fights. Brown brings heavy hands and amateur pedigree. One of them will leave Manchester with two titles and a memory tied for ever to Hatton.
