| |
|
|
John Hedges vs. Pat Brown Final Press Conference
Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith says Manchester is in for
an “amazing” night this Saturday when John Hedges and Pat
Brown collide at the Co-op Live – live worldwide on the
Global Home of Boxing, DAZN.
The two, undefeated Cruiserweight rivals met at Thursday’s
Press Conference as the countdown to their powderkeg clash
for the British, Commonwealth, WBA International and IBF
Intercontinental Titles edges closer.
Both fighters share great expectations of eventually
fighting for a World Title. Brown hopes to set off on that
journey this weekend when he enjoys the home city advantage,
confident of delivering a performance in front of his
majority fans. However, Hedges insists the pressure is
completely off as he goes in search of the coveted Lonsdale
belt.
Smith stated, that with both men going into the fight with
unbeaten records, it provides the backdrop for a memorable
fight night in the North West of England.
"The reality is one of these fighters is going to win and
one is going to lose,” said Smith.
"But both of these men deserve a huge amount of respect for
stepping in there and taking a challenge. How long have we
seen in this sport of boxing fighters go through their
careers taking easy fights, but never getting anywhere?
"Both these guys are going to go in there, take a challenge
and they deserve all the respect. It’s going to be some
night in there on Saturday.
"We’ve had some amazing nights in Manchester over the years,
and I believe Saturday night is going to deliver another one
of those.”
You can watch the Press Conference in full and read the
quotes below – including the full, stacked card which sees
Shabaz Masoud return to take on Ckari Cani Mansilla for the
WBA Intercontinental & IBF Intercontinential Featherweight
Titles, plus Kieron Conway challenging Mark Jeffers in an
eliminator for the British Super Middleweight Championship
and Joe Howarth taking on arch-nemesis Corey O’Regan for the
English Lightweight strap.
Frank Smith, Matchroom Boxing CEO:
“We want to make the best fights in the sport. I think both
these guys deserve all the respect. Boxing is the most
fickle sport in the world. I’m not a boxing expert; I always
profess that I’m not a boxing expert. I like putting on
shows, I love the events around it. The reality is one of
these fighters is going to win and one is going to lose. But
both of these men deserve a huge amount of respect for
stepping in there and taking a challenge. How long have we
seen in this sport of boxing fighters go through their
careers taking easy fights, getting to 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
and 0, but never getting anywhere. Both these guys are going
to go in there, take a challenge and they deserve all the
respect. It’s going to be some night in there on Saturday.
We’ve had some amazing nights in Manchester over the years,
and I believe Saturday night is going to deliver another one
of those.”
John Hedges:
“For me personally, listen, coming here, Co-op Live, this is
absolutely crazy. I’ll be real with you. Life-long dream to
get anywhere close to this let alone doing it myself. I’ve
been in the game a lot of years. I’ve done it since I’ve
been 5 years old. Like I say, people have different dreams
in the boxing world in what they want to achieve. Genuinely
when I say I was happy to fight on the telly and walk away,
that’s the sort of mentality I have. I’ve always never
really backed myself a lot. Slowly slowly I’ve just started
winning fights, getting through them with ease and now look,
I’m here. These are nights you dream of. I’ve had 12 fights
now and I’ve barely lost a round. I turn up on the night and
that’s exactly what I’ll do on Saturday night.
“They do say pressure is a privilege. I’ve still got
pressure on my shoulders, I know what I want to achieve in
this sport. It’s more than a British Title if I’m honest
with you. I know what I want to get to, I know what I’m
capable of. It’s just one of them things. When you get in
there, we’ve seen it time and time again, it’s a lot of
pressure put on your shoulders. Ultimately, we’re only
human. We’ve all got two arms and two legs; you can only go
out there and do your best. If this was back in London, I’d
feel the pressure a little bit more. It doesn’t really
change a lot.”
Frank Greaves, trainer of John Hedges:
“Well, it’s all three of those things, his dedication,
mindset and his ability. He came to the gym literally a few
weeks before the Zorro fight. It was an emergency camp shall
we put it. We literally gelled from the first moment that he
came in the gym. He’s a senior pro now. He ticks all of the
right boxes; he does everything that’s asked of him. I
couldn’t ask for more.”
Pat Brown:
“Yeah, it’s obviously massive. I’ve had fights in stadiums,
I’ve been in the AO (Arena) before. So, I’ve been here. I’ve
visualised it. I know the long walk outs. I know the big
changing rooms. I’m not really letting it get to my head to
be honest with you. It’s brilliant obviously – it’s what you
dream of isn’t it. All I know is the fight game. All this
stuff is brilliant but all I’m focusing on is Saturday night
and I can’t wait now. It’s nearly here.
“That’s really what it’s for, for me. My dad runs a club;
Nigel runs a boxing club. I know the grass root level of
amateur boxing clubs the most – I’ve seen it all and I know
how much work they put into it. You don’t get your Pat
Browns, you don’t get your John Hedges, you don’t get all
these fighters on the undercards and all of these main
events without amateur boxing clubs. That’s where the stars
really become who they really are – disciplined, morals.
Everything. That’s what boxing truly is. All I care about is
showing them kids that have come from nothing like I myself
can get here as well.”
Jamie Moore, trainer of Pat Brown:
“I think it’s been clear to see since the off how much of a
special talent Pat is. It’s been an important part of our
job to make sure that we don’t blow too much smoke up his
ass. Just to make sure that he keeps his feet on the ground
because it’s very easy to get carried away when you’ve done
the type of job on people that Pat has. We’ve got a lot of
respect for John Hedges. We understand the problems that
he’s going to come and cause but my main focus has always
been on Pat Brown. I 100% believe that he has the ability to
become a World Champion. The dream has always been to win
the British Title along the way. On Saturday night he gets
to prove to everyone how good he is.”
Shabaz Masoud:
“It was one of them. It got to a stage in my career where I
felt like it was the right time to move up. I’ve moved up
now and I’m excited to go.
“It’s a lot better man. I’m enjoying it a lot more as well.
I’m just enjoying fight week.
“I was literally back in the gym after a few weeks. I’ve
been in the gym the whole year just working away. It’s one
of them man. This game is no joke. I’m just more than ready.
“He’s a good fighter. I’ve seen bits and bobs of him. I’m
just very confident in myself though. I know what I’ve got
to do.
“My main focus is Saturday. Then we’ll let the team talk and
decide what is next.”
Mark Jeffers:
“Yeah, it’s a massive opportunity. Obviously, the fight was
meant to happen in May. So, I had a camp for that. I’ve not
boxed for a year but I had a full camp for that May one.
Unfortunately that fell through.
“I’m in unbelievable shape. It’s going to be a good night
Saturday. He’s a top fighter. The British Title – that’s one
of my dreams. He’s won that. It’s a massive fight, one I’ve
taken very seriously. I did two weeks in Tenerife for my
camp.
“Get to him, beat him up and get him out of there.”
Kieron Conway:
“It was a decision that had to be made. It probably should
have been made a couple of years ago. But I feel good. I’ve
got energy on fight week and I’m looking to take that in on
Saturday.
“I know that he’s a very good fighter. He’s very rough,
tough and very fit. I can tell you for a fact that I’m glad
I’m not in a running race with him because I know he’s very
good at that. I’m looking forward to Saturday and getting
back on track.
“That’s exactly what I expect him to bring. That’s what I’ve
been working on for the last 9 months, making sure that
cannot happen. I’m here to win by any means necessary.”
|
|
|
