Nantwich heavyweight sensation Nathan Gorman is preparing for his toughest test so far as he looks to preserve his unbeaten professional record.
Gorman, who boxes out of the Ricky Hatton stable, will face former UFC star and 26-1 heavyweight Fabio Maldonado at the Morningside Arena in Leicester on Saturday March 23.
It will mark the 16th fight of 22-year-old Gorman’s professional career, during which time he has become holder of the WBC International Silver title.
Many see Gorman alongside fellow rising heavyweight star Daniel Dubois as the most promising prospects in world heavyweight boxing.
Promoter Frank Warren has made it clear that Gorman and Dubois are likely to face each other in a mouth-watering contest before the end of the year.
But 38-year-old Maldonado has recorded 25 KOs in his 26 wins since turning professional in 2002 and will prove a very tough nut to crack for Gorman.
The only blemish on the Brazilian’s record came in December last year when he was defeated on points by the unbeaten Colombian Oscar Rivas.
Gorman said: “What I know of him is that he is a Brazilian with a good record and has only lost once on points to Rivas.
“Rivas is now a world contender and Maldonado also has a lot of knockouts on his record, so he is a fella who can punch a bit and, obviously, it is heavyweight boxing and you cannot switch off for a second.
“If you do that against someone with the knockout potential Maldonado has got, it could be the end of the fight.
“Ricky has had a look at him and we believe it is the right fight for my progression.
“That is why we have taken it. People thought I might start the year with a tickover fight, but do you really want them now I am 15 fights in?
“You are not going to get warm-up fights if you want to keep progressing.
“It will be good to start the year with a scalp like Maldonado, but he will be very tough and I have got to train for him like he is my world title fight.
“At the end of the day, if I don’t beat him then it is back to the drawing board.”
Nathan Gorman v Fabio Maldonado, to be screened by BT Sport, takes place at Leicester’s Morningside Arena on a card that also includes a British super featherweight title clash between Sam Bowen and Jordan McCorry.
Local fighters CJ Challenger and Kyle Haywood fight for the vacant Midlands Area super welterweight title, with Sam Maxwell bidding to win the WBO European super lightweight title against the Spaniard Kelvin Dotel.
Top prospects Lyon Woodstock, Ryan Garner, Willy Hutchinson, Tommy Fury, Ryan Hatton and Mark Chamberlain also feature on the bill.
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