HEADLINING on debut is a privilege that few fighters can boast of, but that was what was asked of Mancunian amateur standout Pat Brown. The headline attraction was fighting for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and doing so with lofty expectations upon his shoulders.
Yet, after Brown, 1-0 (1 KO), bowed out of Paris in the opening round, tonight’s outing proved much more successful. The towering 6’6” cruiserweight dispatched of Argentina’s Federico Javier Grandone after four rounds of action in Altrincham’s Planet Ice. Grandone, 7-5-2 (3 KOs), made his first appearance away from Argentinian soil.
Comfortable from the get-go, Brown boxed with the attitude of an experienced pro, remaining undistracted by the eagerness of those in the stands, unwilling to rush his work.
That being said, when the opening arose in the third round, Brown acted with all of the instincts of a veteran campaigner. Brown landed a crushing uppercut that drew an audible gasp from those in attendance and had Grandone on skates for the remainder of the round, fitting given the chosen venue of the Altrincham ice rink.
Begrudgingly dragging himself out for another round, Grandone met his fate in the fourth as a left hook to the body became his undoing, falling into the ropes, then beating the referee’s count. The contest was ended by Darren Sarginson seconds later, as the battered visitor became Brown’s first professional victim.
Afterwards, Brown revealed his eagerness to fill the newly built Co-op Live Arena in Manchester in years to come. With the performance and backing that was displayed tonight, that dream could soon become reality, and Manchester could have its much-desired new hero.
The co-main saw the long-awaited grudge match between Cameron Vuong, 8-0 (4 KOs), and Jordan Flynn, 11-1-1 (1 KO), who have had two cancelled meetings with one another over the last nine months.
After a solid start from underdog Flynn in the early stages, the ‘Oxford Punisher’ was caught both off-balance and made to pay by his rival in the third, as Vuong capitalised with a well-timed straight right-hand to send his foe to the floor.
From then on, Vuong refused to let the pendulum swing back in Flynn’s favour, boxing off a speedy jab and picking his moments well, reluctant to throw too many shots and risk tiring as he did in his clash with Gavin Gwynne back in November.
That was until the end of the sixth, when Vuong rocked Flynn and left him on shaky legs as he headed back to the corner.
In the seventh, it was one-way traffic. The end seemed inevitable, and as Flynn stuck his tongue out to suggest otherwise, Vuong pounced on his wounded challenger. Cameron landed a fierce flurry that culminated with a right-hand that snapped Flynn’s head back dramatically, convincing the referee to correctly intervene and award Vuong a statement TKO win.
In one of two title bouts on offer, Clitheroe’s Reece Farnhill, 11-1 (4 KOs), stepped up the level of his opposition as he sought a first defence of the English super-middleweight crown, taking on Durham’s Mark Dickinson, 8-1 (2 KOs). Dickinson’s lone blemish was his defeat in the PrizeFighter tournament in Japan last year.
From the opening bell onwards, it was clear that ‘Boo Boo’ Dickinson seemed intent on digging the body of the undefeated champion. Still, after Farnhill began to anticipate such attacks, Dickinson began to mix up his work and score eye-catching left hooks, resulting in an early cut to Farnhill’s eyelid.
Bloodied and battered, Farnhill showed all of the heart and bravery required of a champion to battle through the discomfort and enjoyed moments of success himself in an entertaining scrap that went to the judges. Dickinson rightfully got the unanimous decision (99-92, 98-92, 98-93) to end Farnhill’s reign at the first attempt.
Hard-hitting light-heavyweight Conner Tudsbury improved to 2-0 (1 KO) by banking six rounds against a gritty Robbie Connor, 3-5-2, despite Tudsbury’s best attempts to get the job done inside the distance.
Connor, who is yet to be stopped as a professional, was impressively unmoved by numerous grimacing Tudsbury blows, taking the 25-year-old prospect the full distance but ultimately losing the decision 60-54.
The Crolla name needs no introduction around these parts, and William Crolla, 8-0 (6 KOs), hopes to emulate and possibly better the success of his former world champion brother and current trainer, Anthony.
Taking on London-based 154-lber Emmanuel Zion, 6-4 (3 KOs), Crolla was tested throughout the well-matched back-and-forth six-round affair. Though his performance merited the decision, the 58-57 scorecard provides evidence of Zion’s efforts, who proved a difficult obstacle to overcome.
Former WBO European welterweight champion Liam Taylor, 28-2-1 (14 KOs), kicked off proceedings with a run-of-the-mill six-round points victory (60-54) over Jamie Stewart, 4-11-4.
Cardiff super-middleweight Taylor Bevan, 3-0 (3 KOs), continued his strong start to life in the pro ranks, needing just one round to halt Ales Makovec, 5-4-1 (3 KOs) and secure a third consecutive knockout in as many fights.
