HALL OF FAME promoter Frank Warren has held the final press conference for Daniel Dubois (11-0, 10KOs) and Nathan Gorman (16-0, 11KOs) ahead of the unbeaten pair clashing on Saturday night (July 13) for the vacant British heavyweight title at London’s o2 Arena, live on BT Sport.
The bitter rivals faced off this afternoon in front of the media at the BT studios in East London.
Here are a selection of quotes from today’s press conference.
FRANK WARREN
“It is a special fight between two young gladiators who are two of the best heavyweight prospects in the world. Their styles will meet and make it a great fight for the fans.
“I think the winner will go on, in the next 12 months, have four or five fights and push himself towards being a mandatory challenger for a major world title. It is not the end for the loser.
“All the preparation is done and all the stuff they did as amateurs is irrelevant. They are different characters and Daniel is more introverted than Nathan, but it goes out of the window like everything else. It is who will stick to the game plan and who will be more resolute.
“It is going to be a special night for British boxing.
“These two have respect and you don’t need to throw tables.”
DANIEL DUBOIS
“It’s been weeks and weeks of hard training and I’m glad it is time to get it on. It is good having the spotlight and being the main event. It’s new and something I look forward to more.
“I am gonna come out in the first round fast, sharp and put it all on the line.
“This is a big difference to our sparring. This is a fight.
“I am a cool guy, I just minded my own business when I was around Nathan in the amateurs. There are no worries. I have worked hard in the gym, listened and just want to do a job. If the opportunity is there I am going for the knockout.
“Frank Bruno gave me a few tips and it was good having a move around with a gladiator like that. Lennox Lewis has been in touch, but it’s no big deal. It’s all on me although Lennox and Frank have had a big influence on my life and more so on my dad and we always talk about them.
MARTIN BOWERS (Daniel’s trainer)
“We always thought this fight would happen, but never talked about when.
“We don’t need to psyche Daniel up because he is a consummate professional.
“It is great being associated with Daniel. He always works, is ready and prepared. If I was a fan I would be excited.
“There is a lot more to both their games and I would be glued to the telly or buying a ticket.
“We have never spoken about any old rivalry with Nathan from when they were on Team GB together. We just focus on going forward. Daniel is diligent. He’s always on time and does everything right. This fight is a credit to British boxing and even more to both boys. The winner will be a champion, but it doesn’t mean the loser wont be.
“We had Frank Bruno come to the gym and see Daniel, but that wont make any difference. It comes down to Nathan and Daniel, and we have the man.
NATHAN GORMAN
“Thankfully I was around to see my daughter born at about 5am on Tuesday morning. I prayed for her to come early because she was due on fight day.
“With my little boy, when we found he had a tumour it was ten weeks out and I only had two days off. Even then I was running in the hospital car park. With the second born my wife is looking after everything.
“There are no excuses. No run has been missed and every session completed. I have never been on it as fully. People are in for a great fight. Our styles meet and we’re in for a big night.
“It’s a big, massive fight and the pressure is on. We were two rivals in the amateurs on Team GB and couldn’t be friends, but we are also completely different personalities.
“Whatever he has we have the answer for. I have been to hell and back. If the knockout is there I am going for it and if I go 12 rounds to win I do.
RICKY HATTON (Nathan’s trainer)
“It was tricky at the start of the camp. Nathan’s two year old son had a tumour removed from his chest and we were worried. Then, a few days ago his wife had a baby daughter.
“Nathan has been looking forward to this, but these are fights you want to be involved in. There was no hesitation from Nathan in taking this fight and these are the fighters you want to train.
“He wanted this fight before he met me. I don’t know about the history, but I thought Nathan wanted to chin me when I asked who he wanted to fight. There is a spring to his step and nastiness is there. It is fighter v boxer, but he is a Gorman. It is in the genes and he can fight.
“When someone puts it on him he is not found wanting. We are preparing for the toughest fight of our lives. I don’t talk rubbish and I am just honest when I say I think Nathan wins.
“It has been great having Tyson Fury in my gym to see Nathan perform and talk to him. But when it comes to fight night people like me and Tyson are not in the ring.
British Heavyweights Rule The World, Says Ricky Hatton
RICKY HATTON believes the mouth-watering clash between Daniel Dubois and Nathan Gorman proves the strength of British heavyweight boxing.
Dubois (11-0, 10KOs) and Hatton trained Gorman (16-0, 11KOs) meet for the vacant British championship in one of the most significant domestic fights in recent years at The O2, London on Saturday July 13, live on BT Sport.
The winner will go soaring up the world rankings. And with both men in their early twenties promoter Frank Warren insists he will rebuild the loser and get him back on the title trail.
Tyson Fury is the lineal champion and Anthony Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, to leave Hatton gushing: “What a time to be a British heavyweight boxer.”
“On the world stage we’re up there and domestically there is world class potential.
“It wasn’t so long ago few people knew who a British heavyweight was. Now we have so many.
“People ask; ‘Why is Nathan against Daniel happening for a British title? It’s a little bit too soon ,’and maybe it is with the amount of fights they’ve had.
“But, if you win a British title these days it is more prestigious than it was in years gone by and that is no disrespect to anyone.
“There are British heavyweights at world level like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte. Then you have Dereck Chisora, Dave Allen, Daniel Dubois, Joe Joyce and Nathan.
“If you win the British title you’ve earn’t it because there are so many great fighters out there.
“It isn’t just a lovely Lonsdale belt at stake, but doors will be opened for the winner.”
FURY: I WOULDN’T LET DUBOIS AND GORMAN FIGHT EACH OTHER
LINEAL heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is shocked that the sensational heavyweight prospects Daniel Dubois and Nathan Gorman are meeting so early in their careers.
The young guns clash for the vacant British heavyweight title on Frank Warren’s ‘Heavy Duty’ card at The O2, London on Saturday July 13, live on BT Sport.
Dubois (11-0, 10KOs) and Gorman (16-0, 11KOs) are both tipped to reach the top by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, who insists he that defeat will not spell the end for the loser.
Fury said: “It’s a good fight and if it was up to me, I wouldn’t let them fight each other because they are both young and unbeaten prospects.”
Also on the card is Olympic silver medallist Joe Joyce (9-0, 9KOs), another world class prospect who could face the winner later this year.
Fury added: “I study heavyweight boxing and they are all good lads. I’ve sparred with Joe, Dubois and Gorman.
“They are all unbeaten prospects and all big men. Why can’t they do it? It’s there for them to do and it’s not impossible if they dedicate and sacrifice their lives.”