“It has always been in me. It was always my dream.”
Pat Brown always knew he wanted to be a boxer. And given his family history, it’s no surprise.
His dad, Mike, had 12 amateur fights and has now been a coach for more than a quarter of a century, whilst his uncle also fought more than 50 times as an amateur.
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Pat, now aged 26 and one of the sport’s rising stars, says his first ever memory is his dad holding up pillows for him to the punch at the age of four, and that he would also take him to Firs Park, near their home in Sale, where he would take him on the pads.
Despite having to be 10 years old to go into the Sale West Amateur Boxing Club, which was just around the corner from his house, his dad’s relationship with the club’s founder, the late Paul Dunne, meant he started going when he was just seven.
Pat after beating Ivan Duka in Birmingham last June(Image: Getty Images)
“Because I knew all the lads through my old man, it already felt like home, really,” he says.
But there was one person more than any other who inspired him to want to become a fighter.
Pat’s introduction to the club came at the time Ricky Hatton, himself a graduate from Sale West, was at the peak of his powers, fighting the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
“Ricky has always been my number one idol” he said, recalling that he had a picture of him on his school book. “Mr Dunne helped him out as an amateur, and he was always round at Mr Dunne’s house.
“When I was in the gym as a kid, Ricky would come in and punch the bag, and he influenced the kids to go on and do great things.
Ricky Hatton with former coach Paul Dunne at Sale West Amateur Boxing Club in 2007(Image: Andy Lambert)
“The biggest advice I got from him was when Ricky was speaking to my dad at a funeral, and my dad relayed it to me.
“He just said that the boxing world is full of rats and you can’t trust everyone. He said you have to have your ear to the door at all times because it can get very messy as you go up the ranks, with the politics of boxing.
“I think that is the best advice I’ve had, and it’s stood me in good stead. I’ve always had the right people around, me guiding me. That’s what it’s about, having a small-knit team.”
Pat said he also played football and rugby league as a youngster, but that he knew from a young age he wanted to focus on boxing. He remained at Sale West until the age of 20.
He boxed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, reaching the Round of 16, before turning professional that year, signing a long-term deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable.
Pat’s opponent John Hedges, with Ricky Hatton who trained him(Image: Getty Images)
He has a perfect record, securing knockout victories in each of his six pro fights so far.
He has already boxed on the undercard at fights at Manchester’s AO Arena, Windsor Park in Belfast, and at the NEC in Birmingham, as well as two shows at Planet Ice in Altrincham.
However, on Saturday (September 19), he will headline a major arena for the first time, at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
Asked if he envisaged headlining arenas like that, he said: “No. Not this early on. I’ve always envisioned it in my mind throughout the years, but never this early on in my career.”
Asked if he felt he was now following in Ricky’s footsteps, he said: “It’d be nice to think so. People like to compare. I’ve said this numerous times, but if I can take one percent from Ricky’s career, I’ll be a very happy man.
“I just want to put on a really good night for people.”
The strapping 6ft 3in puncher, nicknamed ‘The Bomber’, is taking on 24-year-old Essex fighter John Hedges for the British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight titles.
John, nicknamed ‘The Gentleman’ has his own history with Ricky Hatton. Ricky was in his corner when he won the English title last May and has said he feels it is fitting he is fighting next door to the home of Ricky’s beloved Manchester City.
He has hinted he may pay tribute to Ricky, with the fight being close to the first anniversary of his tragic death.
“He’s a class fighter, he’s worth his money, and I just can’t wait for Saturday night,” United fan Pat says.
And he is hoping the British title in particular, which he says is the ‘most historic belt in the game,’ can be a stepping stone to even greater things.
“Like every fighter, world champion is the ultimate goal. But I never thought I would go to the Olympics,” he says.
“I always had a dream to be North West champion. Then a national champion. Then boxing for Great Britain. You always have these dreams but when they start coming true, you think ‘do you know what, I can actually do this’ and you start getting even more belief. So it’s nice to have these goals set ahead but I’m definitely not one to rush. I want to go through the right stage at the right time.”
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