John Hedges honours Ricky Hatton at weigh-in for Pat Brown fight

John Hedges wore a T-shirt featuring his late trainer Ricky Hatton ahead of Saturday’s fight with Pat Brown in Manchester, where the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles are at stake.

John Hedges paid tribute to his late trainer Ricky Hatton at the weigh-in for Saturday’s bout against Pat Brown in Manchester, wearing a T-shirt covered with images of Hatton, BBC Sport reported.

The 24-year-old from Essex pointed to the pictures as he faced boos at New Century Hall, where most of the crowd backed local fighter Brown. Hedges said the reception did not trouble him, drawing on his experience of competing at a high level as an amateur.

Hatton had been in Hedges’ corner when he won the English cruiserweight title in May 2025. The two-weight world champion moved into coaching after retiring in 2012 and was found dead at his Manchester home in September 2025, aged 46.

Hedges and Brown both weighed 14st 3lb (90kg) for their meeting for the vacant British and Commonwealth cruiserweight titles. Hedges is unbeaten in 12 professional contests, while Brown, who represented Team GB at the 2024 Olympics, has won all six of his bouts by knockout.

The fight will take place at Co-op Live after ticket demand prompted a move from its original venue, Planet Ice in Altrincham.