Moss Side boxing heavyweight star qualifies for the Olympic Games

Manchester is famed for its boxing progeny, and it looks like we could be adding another boxing legend to that long list.

Patrick Brown, Team GB Boxer

Moss Side Fireman Patrick Brown, who trains at Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club has qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

He clinched a spot on the TEAM GB Boxing team because of his success at the Boxing Road to Paris event in Italy.

He was the first to seal qualification after defeating Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki unanimously in a heavyweight matchup.

This was no mean feat for the 24-year-old, competing for one of the 59 places on offer in Milan.

Moss Side Fire Station Boxing club

Patrick trained at the Moss Side Fire Station Boxing club, which has been run by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service since 2008.

The Club helps people to build confidence, self-esteem, and supports GMFRS’s engagement in the local community

Speaking after he found out he’d qualified, Patrick said: “Words can’t describe how I feel. I could cry my eyes out!

“I’m just showing to my amateur club at Moss Side Fire Station and Sale ABC, and the kids there, that if they keep going and work hard, anything is possible.”

Patrick Brown, who was born and raised in Sale, he was invited to the GB training team back in March 2022.

Previously, he has won two ABA senior titles, just narrowly missing out on qualifying to Tokyo 2020 as the Covid-19 Pandemic Hit.

Before being invited to join the GB Boxing training scheme in March 2022, Brown battled his way to two national ABA titles at senior level and held ambitions to attend Tokyo 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic cut his efforts short.

It appears the GB camp has been having a great effect on his boxing, as he won a gold medal at January’s GB Open in Sheffield.

You can watch the highlights below

– Brown put in a ‘bout of the day’ performance with an outstanding victory over Nigeria’s already-qualified Adam Olaore at the semi-final stage.

GMFRS Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel

GMFRS Chief Fire Officer, Dave Russel, said: “I am incredibly proud of Pat and all the trainers and coaching staff at Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club. To qualify for the Olympics 2024 is a phenomenal achievement and I wish Pat the very best of luck in Paris.

“A special thanks goes to Head Coach Nigel Travis, who works tirelessly at the boxing club developing young people. Raising aspirations through sport enables our service to work at the very heart of our local communities. I am sure Pat’s incredible achievement will inspire other young people for many years to come.”

You can find out more about Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club by clicking here

Header Photo Credit: Patrick Brown – Photo Credit Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service