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Nick Parkinson
Daniel Dubois was crowned British heavyweight king Saturday night after another devastating display of power punching accounted for Nathan Gorman in five rounds.
Dubois (12-0, 11 KOs), fighting close to his home in Greenwich, lifted the vacant British belt at the O2 Arena in North Greenwich, southeast London.
“I’m very confident in my power, and it worked,” Dubois, 21, said.
Victory marks Dubois as arguably Britain’s best prospect to join the likes of former world champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, as well as leading contender Dillian Whyte, among the world’s best heavyweights.
Dubois also became the third-youngest British heavyweight champion, behind Joe Bugner and Herbie Hide.
Gorman (16-1, 11 KOs), 23, from Nantwich in northwest England, and a second cousin of Fury, could not cause Dubois any problems with his hand speed and flurries of punches.
Instead, Dubois controlled the fight behind his jab and power punches, flooring Gorman in the third round before a right hand finished Gorman in the fifth.
Gorman, who is trained by former world champion Ricky Hatton, had distractions in the lead-up to the fight. His daughter was born earlier in fight week, while his 2-year-old son has needed hospital treatment recently.
After being led to the ring by Fury, any early confidence quickly evaporated for Gorman.
Dubois opened up a cut by the left eye with a right hook in the second round, as the Londoner established his authority.
In the third round, Gorman sank to his knees for a count after being caught by a series of clubbing rights to the temple.
Dubois dictated the pace of the fight, and he finished it in style in the fifth round. Dubois landed two accurate jabs before sending a right hand to Gorman’s temple. Gorman crumpled to the canvas, then rose to beat the count, but the fight was waved off as he was on wobbly legs.
“I got caught by a good shot, but I will come again,” Gorman said.