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.
Tickets for ‘Heavy Duty’ featuring Daniel Dubois v Nathan Gorman for the vacant British Heavyweight Title, plus Olympic silver medallist Joe Joyce v Bryant Jennings are on sale now. The show also features British Middleweight champion Liam Williams who clashes against France’s former European champion Karim Achour for the vacant WBC Silver middleweight crown. Super-flyweight sensation Sunny Edwards meets Mexican Hiram Gallardo for the vacant IBF super-flyweight title. WBO super-featherweight champion Archie Sharp risks his crown against Jordan McCorry. Returning after an impressive debut is Kent bantamweight Dennis McCann. Hamza Sheeraz, Mark Chamberlain, Jake Pettitt,, Mickey Burke Jr and Florian Marku add to an exciting line up and tickets are available via AXS.com, Eventim and Ticketmaster and are priced as below:
£300 – Hospitality
£200 – Floor
£150 – Floor
£100 – Tier/Floor
£75 – Floor/Tier
£50 – Tier
£40 – Tied