![[DEALS] The 2025 Ultimate GenAI Masterclass Bundle (87% off) & Other Deals Up To 98% Off – Offers End Soon!](https://www.javacodegeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/jcg-logo.jpg){kind=logo}
-Olekcii_Mach_Alamy.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale#)
![Air Traffic Controller Claps Back At United CEO Scott Kirby: ‘You’re The Problem At Newark’ [Roundup]](https://viewfromthewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/scott-kirby-on-stage.jpg?#)
I’ve faced Daniel Dubois’ ‘heavy hands’ in sparring – now I’m following Ricky Hatton to become world champion
John Hedges can use more than just advice from Ricky Hatton to win the English cruiserweight title this weekend. The 23-year-old can utilise fear he experienced in a sparring session with Daniel Dubois, only three years ago, to his advantage on his return to the ring come Saturday. Hedges is 10-0 having made his pro debut in October 2020James Chance/Getty Images He has been preparing with ‘The Hitman’ Hatton for the last few monthsGetty Hedges, an undefeated professional boxer from Essex, is looking to extend his 10-0 record, before Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen come to blows for a second time at Hackney Wick’s Copper Box Arena. He faces Liverpudlian Nathan Quarless on the undercard of the London event, but will be entering the bout with absolutely no fear. That’s because ‘The Gentleman’ has already mixed it up with some of the very best fighters in the world, including heavyweight powerhouses like Joy Joyce and Dubois. The Essex man feared he was seconds from being knocked out after catching current IBF world heavyweight champion Dubois on the head during what was meant to be a body only sparring session. Hedges was only a light heavyweight at the time, but his 6’6″ frame give him the confidence to challenge Dubois at Newlands Gym in Essex, as both men were looking for dancing partners at the same time. “[Dubois was] about seven stone heavier than me at the time, but [I said], ‘Let’s do it,'” Hedges told talkSPORT.com ahead of his fight with Quarless. “It was all nice, but I’ll be the first one to say, Daniel does hit that hard. He hits that hard. “Even if Daniel touches you, you’re like, ‘He’s got power. He’s got heavy hands.’ “It was just a body spar. We were both getting into it, enjoying it, I was probably getting the better work off, because I was a bit quicker. “I was trying to run away, and it was just one of them things… as he’s gone to throw a jab, I’ve hit him with a backhand. Hedges has been training under the guidance of Ricky Hatton in preparation for his next bout@JohnHedges1 (Instagram) / Getty Dubois knocked out Anthony Joshua in his last fight in SeptemberGetty “I’m not saying I wobbled him or anything like that, but he didn’t expect it, because it was only mean to be body sparring. “I just remember thinking, ‘Oh no,’ because if you’re going to come back and try and do that to me… try and get one-one. I might not be still standing here.” It would be fair to say Hedges’ estimations were probably correct, as Dubois now has the opportunity to become the unified heavyweight champion of the word in his next fight. He takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a four-belt shootout on July 19 at Wembley Stadium. ‘Triple D’ picked up the interim IBF crown a fortnight after Usyk’s first win over Tyson Fury by stopping Filip Hrgovic. Thanks to Usyk’s decision to rematch Fury, Dubois was then elevated to full IBF world champion and he retained the title when he shockingly knocked out Anthony Joshua last September. Londoner Dubois, 27, faces Oleksandr Usyk for undisputed heavyweight status nextGetty John Hedges professional boxing career 10-0 (3 KOs) Upcoming – Nathan Quarless, Copper Box Arena, Hackney Wick – May 2025 Win – Lewis Oakford, unanimous decision at Copper Box Arena, Hackney Wick – July 2024 Win – Erdogan Kadrija, TKO at Indigo at The O2, Greenwich – February 2024 Win – Daniel Bocianski, points at O2 Arena, Greenwich – April 2023 Win – Ales Makovec, points at Wembley Arena, Wembley – October 2022 Win – Robert Baltaru, TKO at O2 Arena, Greenwich – May 2022 Win – Aleksander Nagolski, TKO at O2 Arena, Greenwich – February 2022 Win – Ben Thomas, points at O2 Arena, Greenwich – October 2021 Win – Frane Radnic, unanimous decision, Klagenfurt, Austria – September 2021 Win – Stanko Jermelic, points, Copper Box Arena, Hackney Wick – April 2021 Win – Jan Ardon (pro debut), points, Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes – October 2020 Dubois was meant to return against Joseph Parker in February, but now rematches Usyk in his first fight since inflicting that devastating defeat on ‘AJ.’ Hedges knows what it’s like to stand toe-to-toe with Dubois in the ring, but doesn’t believe the Briton gets past Usyk. “Dubois can do it, I don’t think he does, though,” he said. “Usyk is just a generational talent. Hedges, meanwhile, has been acting like a sponge soaking up every bit of information from the legendary Hatton ahead of his next scrap. It was around four years ago when Hatton named Hedges as one of three fighters who he thought had big a future in the sport. “I didn’t even know he knew my name,” Hedges added, speaking on how his partnership with the former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion came about. “I’d only had three fights, and from then, I was like, you know what? I’m going to reach out
John Hedges can use more than just advice from Ricky Hatton to win the English cruiserweight title this weekend.
The 23-year-old can utilise fear he experienced in a sparring session with Daniel Dubois, only three years ago, to his advantage on his return to the ring come Saturday.
Hedges, an undefeated professional boxer from Essex, is looking to extend his 10-0 record, before Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen come to blows for a second time at Hackney Wick’s Copper Box Arena.
He faces Liverpudlian Nathan Quarless on the undercard of the London event, but will be entering the bout with absolutely no fear.
That’s because ‘The Gentleman’ has already mixed it up with some of the very best fighters in the world, including heavyweight powerhouses like Joy Joyce and Dubois.
The Essex man feared he was seconds from being knocked out after catching current IBF world heavyweight champion Dubois on the head during what was meant to be a body only sparring session.
Hedges was only a light heavyweight at the time, but his 6’6″ frame give him the confidence to challenge Dubois at Newlands Gym in Essex, as both men were looking for dancing partners at the same time.
“[Dubois was] about seven stone heavier than me at the time, but [I said], ‘Let’s do it,'” Hedges told talkSPORT.com ahead of his fight with Quarless.
“It was all nice, but I’ll be the first one to say, Daniel does hit that hard. He hits that hard.
“Even if Daniel touches you, you’re like, ‘He’s got power. He’s got heavy hands.’
“It was just a body spar. We were both getting into it, enjoying it, I was probably getting the better work off, because I was a bit quicker.
“I was trying to run away, and it was just one of them things… as he’s gone to throw a jab, I’ve hit him with a backhand.
“I’m not saying I wobbled him or anything like that, but he didn’t expect it, because it was only mean to be body sparring.
“I just remember thinking, ‘Oh no,’ because if you’re going to come back and try and do that to me… try and get one-one. I might not be still standing here.”
It would be fair to say Hedges’ estimations were probably correct, as Dubois now has the opportunity to become the unified heavyweight champion of the word in his next fight.
He takes on Oleksandr Usyk in a four-belt shootout on July 19 at Wembley Stadium.
‘Triple D’ picked up the interim IBF crown a fortnight after Usyk’s first win over Tyson Fury by stopping Filip Hrgovic.
Thanks to Usyk’s decision to rematch Fury, Dubois was then elevated to full IBF world champion and he retained the title when he shockingly knocked out Anthony Joshua last September.
John Hedges professional boxing career
10-0 (3 KOs)
Upcoming – Nathan Quarless, Copper Box Arena, Hackney Wick – May 2025
Win – Lewis Oakford, unanimous decision at Copper Box Arena, Hackney Wick – July 2024
Win – Erdogan Kadrija, TKO at Indigo at The O2, Greenwich – February 2024
Win – Daniel Bocianski, points at O2 Arena, Greenwich – April 2023
Win – Ales Makovec, points at Wembley Arena, Wembley – October 2022
Win – Robert Baltaru, TKO at O2 Arena, Greenwich – May 2022
Win – Aleksander Nagolski, TKO at O2 Arena, Greenwich – February 2022
Win – Ben Thomas, points at O2 Arena, Greenwich – October 2021
Win – Frane Radnic, unanimous decision, Klagenfurt, Austria – September 2021
Win – Stanko Jermelic, points, Copper Box Arena, Hackney Wick – April 2021
Win – Jan Ardon (pro debut), points, Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes – October 2020
Dubois was meant to return against Joseph Parker in February, but now rematches Usyk in his first fight since inflicting that devastating defeat on ‘AJ.’
Hedges knows what it’s like to stand toe-to-toe with Dubois in the ring, but doesn’t believe the Briton gets past Usyk.
“Dubois can do it, I don’t think he does, though,” he said. “Usyk is just a generational talent.
Hedges, meanwhile, has been acting like a sponge soaking up every bit of information from the legendary Hatton ahead of his next scrap.
It was around four years ago when Hatton named Hedges as one of three fighters who he thought had big a future in the sport.
“I didn’t even know he knew my name,” Hedges added, speaking on how his partnership with the former welterweight and light-welterweight world champion came about.
“I’d only had three fights, and from then, I was like, you know what? I’m going to reach out to him.
“So I reached out. I was like, ‘Oh, Ricky, thanks for the kind words,’ this and that – it was all meant to be.
“We both see boxing the exact same way, which is the main thing… you’ve both got to be on the same sheet, the same sub-sheet, and we both are.
“Ricky was known for his unbelievable power, great body puncher, but what people don’t talk about is his 75 amateur fights.
“I had a very good amateur background, so he knows what I’m about, before I turn pro.
“Everyone looks at your pro career, but you’ve got to remember, you’ve got all that ability, what you’ve got in the amateurs, all of that is your pedigree.
“So when we got to the gym and started hitting a few pads, we clicked in the sense of: I’m a tall fighter, so he might say, ‘Right, John, just keep on the back foot.’
“No, he doesn’t. You’ve got to be able to do everything, and that’s my mentality…
“We need to take a little bit of Ricky Hatton and a little bit of John Hedges and mix the two.
“If I could imitate 50 per cent of what he does and keep 50 per cent of what I do, it’s going to be a recipe for something good.”
Hedges concluded by revealing he has been sparring with 19 stone heavyweights for his fight with Quarless.
He spars heavyweights, light heavyweights and cruiserweights, and has ambitions of one day remaining in the heavyweight division as a prize fighter.
As a Fury guy, Hedges knows where the money lies, so don’t be surprised if he makes the move sooner rather than later down the line.
