Daniel Dubois has rubbished Nathan Gorman’s claims he beat him up in sparring ahead of today’s announcement that they will fight for the British heavyweight title.
The pair will clash in Dubois’ south London backyard on July 13 at The O2 and he has dismissed Gorman’s claims he bossed their sparring sessions when they were amateurs in the GB squad.
The unbeaten Dubois, 21, who is 11-0, gave up the chance to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics next year to turn pro and said: “To be honest, that’s looking back.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about. That’s gone now. I’m a different fighter now. I’m a different person now and that won’t effect what will happen on fight night.
“I will take on whoever is put in front of me and I have to come through it. That’s how it’s been so far.
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“I’m confident in my own ability. I’ve got what it takes to beat all the guys out there. It’s about being focused on myself and getting in the ring and performing.”
Gorman, 22, who is 16-0, remembers those sessions differently and had no hesitation in turning down a slot on Tyson Fury ’s undercard in Las Vegas on June 15 to face Dubois.
The Ricky Hatton-trained heavyweight claims beating the much-hyped Dubois will propel him onto the world stage.
“I felt like I never lost a round when we sparred,” said the Nantwich fighter. “We were on the GB team for two years and did around 300 rounds and I feel like I never lost one.
“As much as I would have loved to have boxed on Tyson’s undercard in Las Vegas, this was a no-brainer.
“I always said I would fight him and as soon as the call came I took it.
“Our profiles and the timing is right. You look at Amir Khan and Kell Brook and see a fight that has been overcooked. I think we’ve got this at the right time. It could go on to be a trilogy, if it’s a barnstormer, why not.”
