Big Fight Preview & Prediction: Daniel Dubois vs Nathan Gorman

Big Fight Preview & Prediction: Daniel Dubois vs Nathan Gorman

The heavyweight division has been one of frustration for much of the past year or so. Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury gave us the sort of fight which we crave, but the aftermath led to even further derision from fans, the judges ruined the night in the eyes of many, boxing seems to have a way of spoiling even the great nights in the sport.

Tom Schwarz was then fed to Fury, Luis Ortiz gets another opportunity with Wilder that nobody wants, Dillian Whyte still waits, Oscar Rivas satisfies very few.

The dangers of waiting were brutally highlighted by Andy Ruiz Jr, who signed and delivered in his life-changing performance against Anthony Joshua.

But it seems things are beginning to fall into place, Joshua will get a chance for revenge later this year, and if Wilder and Fury can avoid what happened to Joshua, they will go again early next year.

The grip the politics had on boxing which was threatening to choke the life out of the division is finally beginning to ease.

Much lower down the heavyweight food chain, two unbeaten British hopefuls this weekend clash at the O2 Arena in London to decide which of them moves forward to the fringes of the elite of the division.

Daniel Dubois (11-0) and Nathan Gorman (16-0) have history, Gorman says he dominated their sparring sessions when they were amateurs, Dubois didn’t deny, but as he says what happened then will not decide what happens now.

Unless it’s a completely one-sided affair, the loser can come again, it shouldn’t be a career-ending fight for the beaten fighter.

Both fighters and Frank Warren deserve credit for making the fight happen. It didn’t have to take place, there were plenty of excuses from the boxing book of avoidance to use, none were and the fight got made with the British heavyweight title on the line.

I always felt that the longer it goes before the two unbeaten prospects meet, it would benefit Dubois more. If the fight was made a year ago, I would probably be leaning towards Gorman. Dubois still looked a raw novice, Gorman just seemed a little more advanced. But Gorman I just feel has levelled out, while Dubois has developed further.

There are certain similarities with Ruiz Jr and Joshua, and Gorman could very well do a similar job to Ruiz Jr, the styles of both mirror what we saw in New York. Gorman could just be all wrong Dubois.

Dubois still looks a little stiff, lacks head movement and Gorman could exploit it. The Gorman camp sound confident, and their man could very well raise his performance from what we have seen recently. The hand speed and the movement might be too much for Dubois.

It’s one of those fights that we don’t see often enough, nobody can confidently pick the winner, or even how they win. We can’t say for certain, how good either fighter is.

SkyBet have Dubois the slight 1/2 favourite with Gorman the slender 6/4 betting underdog. The odds for me reflect perfectly the closeness of the fight.

Gorman could easily be getting Dubois at the right time, is Dubois ready. Of the two, I think Dubois is the long-term better prospect, the one who I see competing with the best of the world, I don’t see that with Gorman.

It’s a fight with real intrigue, and a case can easily be made for either fighter. Gorman looks and sounds like a fighter who knows something we don’t.

Dubois has looked uncomfortable during the build-up at times. He knows full well he has to go though the never ending media obligations, but almost certainly wishing he was elsewhere. But the quiet shy demeanour of Dubois shouldn’t be taken for something else.

For the first time in their pro careers both fighters are heading into a fight knowing its one they could realistically lose. Its very much a puglistic game of snakes and ladders, the winner moves up, the loser will have to work his way back up.

If Dubois boxes with patience, and doesn’t recklessly go looking for the early finish, I think he will get the job done. I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes the distance, but I believe that the extra power will be the difference and Dubois will force a stoppage somewhere in the middle rounds.