AMATEUR heavyweight sensation Nathan Gorman has signed a long-term professional contract with Hatton Promotions and will have his first outing in Walsall on Saturday (December 5).
The Nantwich teenager won the ABA Youth championships in 2014 and was on the Great Britain Podium Potential squad. He had hoped to push towards a future Olympic spot but the opportunity to be promoted and trained by Ricky Hatton was too good to turn down.
Gorman comes from respected fighting stock as he is a direct descendent of Bartley Gorman, the bareknuckle boxer who was 'King of the Travellers' for more than two decades and served as an inspiration to actor Tom Hardy when he was preparing to play the supervillain Bane in the Hollywood blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.
"Boxing is a big part of my life," Gorman said.
"Ever since I was a little kid, I want to box and it's a great honour to be given the chance to work with a legend like Ricky Hatton.
"Along with Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jnr, Ricky was my boxing idol and been given the opportunity to be trained by him is unreal.
"I did well in the amateurs so I could have tried to push on, but the chance to work with Ricky every day was too good to miss.
"I think the pros will suit me better anyway because I like to work on the inside and get my shots off and it's hard to do that in the amateurs because referees get involved too much.
"I'm excited about making my debut. I'll have a lot of people supporting me and I can't wait to show people what I can do."
The December 5 bill is a co-promotion between Hatton Promotions and Black Country Boxing entitled 'Jingle Brawls' and is topped by an English super-lightweight title and British elimination clash between Malmesbury's Joe Hughes and unbeaten prospect Anthony Upton.
Tickets are priced at £30 (general admission) and £60 (ringside). They can be purchased from Walsall Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900 or directly from any boxer on the bill.
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