DANIEL DUBOIS and Nathan Gorman met face-to-face today to officially announce their vacant British heavyweight title fight at The O2, London on Saturday July 13.
Also on the bill is world ranked London heavyweight Joe Joyce who will feature in a major fight. He first has to come through a test against Alexander Ustinov at The Lamex Stadium, home of Stevenage FC on Saturday May 18.
The blockbuster night will be broadcast live on BT Sport.
Here’s what the unbeaten trio, their teams and promoter Frank Warren had to say ahead of the big summer night of action.
FRANK WARREN
“It’s not the end of the world for the loser between Daniel and Nathan. Dereck Chisora has shown you can come good after losing.
“I wanted to put the fight on this December, but I spoke to the boys and they made the fight. They wanted it.
“There is nothing better than watching two young heavyweights in there. They are exciting young talents and the next generation. This is a throwback fight.
“These guys and Joe Joyce are going to be in the picture when Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua come back from America.
“The British Boxing Board of Control put out the fight between Joe and Daniel. I spoke with Joe’s team and they were looking at their position as mandatory challenger to European champion Agit Kabayel and WBA regular champion Manuel Charr so go in another direction for now. We have been in discussion with Kabayel and if we can’t agree terms that will go to purse bids. Joe will fight a world ranked opponent in July.”
DANIEL DUBOIS
“There has been a lot of talk about this fight, there will be attention but I think Nathan is gonna be my easiest fight so far and after I’ve got him out the way I’m after Joe Joyce and whoever is left.
“There is so much potential in me.
“The GB squad with Nathan is all a blur and the past.
“I have got what it takes to deal with him and it will be easy. Be careful what you wish for. I’m here and will get the job done.
“If I hadn’t shown my skills I wouldn’t be here. It has been hard work, but I am here.
“To go in the record books as British champion is something else and a step towards being top of the division.
“I don’t care about liking Nathan. We’re in the hurt business and that is what I look forward to doing to him on fight night.”
TONY BOWERS (Dubois manager)
“We’re confident. Daniel works hard, has matured and we can see him growing in every angle — power and strength. He is becoming the full package and nothing flusters him.
“He is easy to work with because there is no task he won’t take on and complete. Daniel isn’t worried about what Nathan says and laughs it off. He will put that right on the night.”
NATHAN GORMAN
“We were on the GB squad for two years together and we did 200 or 300 rounds sparring and I don’t think I lost one.
He thinks I’m his easiest opponent so far, but I bring a lot more than all the other opponents he has fought.
They have just wanted to get the payday and go home. I want to win and be British heavyweight champion.
If me being his easiest fight is motivation fair play. I’m not and he knows it.
This isn’t going to points and I am trying for the KO. I am the underdog and people might say I will get knocked out, but we’ll see.
The all-time greats have been boxers and I have a boxing brain.
Some great names have won the British title and it will be the greatest moment in my boxing life to win it at the o2 Arena.
I’m not sure if Daniel if Frank’s golden goose, but after July 13 I will be his number one boy.”
RICKY HATTON (Gorman’s trainer)
“Fights like this don’t normally happen so soon, but boxing is changing. Building a fight up for three years doesn’t exist anymore because of TV and public demands. Boxers also want to fight the best sooner. I take my hat off to Nathan and Daniel for taking this fight.
As a trainer you hope someone walks through the door like Nathan and when he walked through the door looked like he’d been doing it for years. He has talent, hand speed, can fight in the pocket and he will have to show that against Daniel.
From the minute he walked through the door this was the one fight Nathan wanted.”
JOE JOYCE
“Ustinov is a big old boy and can take stick so I need to put it on him next week. After that it’s a massive fight, but I am not overlooking Ustinov.
The July card shows that the UK heavyweights are taking over. I want to see how Daniel and Nathan get on and take on the winner down the line.
Daniel and Nathan is a 50-50 fight, a massive rivalry and it is gonna be explosive. I’m sitting on the fence. I saw them on the GB squad and could see the rivalry. It’s going to be tasty.”
SAM JONES (S-JAM Boxing)
“The fight with Daniel or Nathan is always going to be there, but he would lose the EBU nomination if we fought Daniel and we’re also mandatory to WBA regular champion. We would even fight Dereck Chisora in July.”
Tickets for ‘Heavy Duty’ featuring Daniel Dubois v Nathan Gorman for the vacant British Heavyweight Title, plus Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce go on sale at 12pm on Friday 10th May via AXS.com, Eventim and Ticketmaster and will be priced as below:
£300 – (Hospitality)
£200 – Floor
£150 – Floor
£100 – Tier/Floor
£75 – Floor/Tier
£50 – Tier
£40 – Tier
