Pat Brown understands the high expectations, but content at his own speed
Pat Brown made Saturday another quick night's work on the Lewis Crocker-Paddy Donovan 2 undercard at Windsor Park.
So much so that it was almost surprising to hear of the 25-year-old's pre-fight nerves before blasting through Austine Nnamdi two rounds into their scheduled eight-rounder. Having dismantled Lewis Oakford in one round two months earlier, it's another handy addition to the ever-growing highlight reel of knockout victories for the Manchester man.
The 2024 Olympian, who signed with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom stable last year, has spoken about making incremental improvements in a 200-pound division needing a new cover star a half decade since Oleksandr Usyk took his talents to the sport's glamour division.
Ring champion Jai Opetaia and the injured unified titleholder Gilberto Ramirez are at the top of the current crop. And Britain has former WBO titleholder Chris Billam-Smith (22-2, 13 KOs) as a shining example to younger pros about how to maximise potential in a ruthless game of snakes and ladders.
It's a phrase Hearn himself uses during our convesation to describe a situation he's clearly excited about, organically from building ticket-sellers and moving them across the country. Leo Atang, Adam Maca and ... "Don't forget Pat Brown," he continued during a roundtable with written journalists on Thursday.
"Pat Brown is a serious fighter. He's got a massive fanbase in Manchester, he's only one or two fights away from fighting for the British title. I want him to fight Aloys, think it's an unbelievable fight - I understand he's only had three fights [now four] - was an outstanding amateur, John Hedges is a good fight between two young guys for the English title, a British eliminator.
"I see Pat, there's a lot of very good, young heavyweights people are getting excited about. Pat has sparred them all and he will move to heavyweight, win cruiserweight championships and go up..
WBA's No. 4-rated contender Aloys Junior (11-1, 9 KOs) might be highly-ranked at world level and making plenty of noise among his domestic rivals, but his 10-round points win over one-time title challenger Ellis Zorro was a reminder that he isn't there yet.
Cheavon Clarke (10-2, 7 KOs) had his cloak of invincibility ripped away from him in Monte Carlo last winter and hasn't got back on the winning horse despite changing trainer to the esteemed Virgil Hunter. Meanwhile, the jury remains out on Viddal Riley after a disciplined display saw him snatch the famous Lonsdale belt at Clarke's expense on the Chris Eubank Jr-Conor Benn undercard.
Hearn named Aloys and promotional stablemate John Hedges (11-0, 3 KOs), as options to be explored by Team Brown in the not-too-distant future. When that's put to the man himself post-fight, he plainly warns against being pushed too quickly: time is his friend.
"I've been developing well in terms of transition from amateur to pro, obviously have to get used to the smaller gloves and your defence a swell, can't always catch on the gloves too often because it grazes and you can still feel the shot - you have to ride them a little bit - so my defence has slightly changed," he tells The Ring in a noisy fighter hotel.
"People were talking about my left hand being low but I was always in control there, if I was ever in proper danger, would've got my hand up and knew where I was comfortable.
As far as his future plans are concerned, the 25-year-old wants more of the same in 2026.
"I'll have one more fight at the end of November or start of December, Christmas and New Year off, then a busy 2026 with five more fights under my belt."
When Hearn's aforementioned comments are put to him, as well as assessing the levels of those currently above him, he makes it clear - focusing on himself alone.
"I'm only 25 and got age on my side. It was the same as an amateur, people tried to rush me and I always took my time, they wanted me to turn over too soon and it's the same now. No-one is going to rush me, I know when the time is right, me and my team will know. I've not even been past four rounds yet ..." his voice trails off, clearly keeping his feet on the ground.
Criticism of his coaching team and scrutiny will be heightened as he steps up the levels, seeing as rising lightweight contender Cameron Vuong (9-0, 4 KOs) and now world-level welterweight Jack Catterall (31-2, 13 KOs) have both left in recent months.
"All you've got to do is look at their history," Brown continues. "They've had multiple champion fighters under their roster, are very experienced coaches, just because Catterall left doesn't tarnish the gym or anything like that. People are quick to criticise, but Jack left not because they're bad coaches, but his own personal reasons. They're top coaches, best in the world, I know I'm in the right place.
"I've known them both a long time, Nigel has been through the amateur circuit with me, we're all from Manchester and get on brilliantly."
Brown gains little from Nnamdi-type opposition besides morale-boosting confidence about his punching power.
The work he's been crafting behind-the-scenes in Manchester under Nigel Travis and Jamie Moore is key behind Hearn's declaration that he will 'clean up' the 200-pound division before eventually venturing to heavyweight at some stage.
Brown looked a fleshy 204.5lbs when weighing in against the Irish-based Nigerian on Friday and has plenty of work to do before Hearn's bold comments appear anywhere near coming to fruition. Yet his promoter is doing exactly what he should — attaching a rocket ship to Brown — at a time where the other Olympians from his cycle aren't setting the world alight. All in time.
