IT is with a mixture of relief and anticipation that Nantwich heavyweight Nathan Gorman returns to the ring this Friday (June 17) following 15 months out of action and just two fights in the last three years.
Still only 25 (he turns 26 later this month), Gorman has, since losing against Daniel Dubois in July 2019, struggled to enjoy much in the way of momentum, his rehabilitation cruelly coinciding with a global pandemic and the temporary shutting down of the sport. Now, though, with a fight this Friday against Tomas Salek set to headline an event on Channel 5, Gorman has every incentive to put the past behind him and view this latest career chapter as something of a rebirth.
โItโs been a long time Iโve been out, a long time being inactive, but itโs time Iโve spent in the gym,โ he told Boxing News. โItโs not like Iโve been doing whatever I want. Iโve been picking up new things and trying to perfect my craft during that time away. In these past 15 months Iโve been abroad sparring and Iโve had lots of good sparring here, too. Itโs been time well spent. I could have fought somebody and blasted them out in a round in that time, but what would I learn from that?โ
Last time out, in March 2021, Gorman had an easier than expected time in the company of Pavel Sour, a heavyweight from the Czech Republic whom Gorman finished in two rounds. That was, on paper, exactly the kind of result Gorman was after, yet the lack of rounds, given the time out to follow, was something he may have later come to curse.
โPavel Sour is one of those fighters who can cause problems if he turns up,โ Gorman, 18-1 (12), said. โHe fought Jermaine Franklin (in 2019) and gave him a really hard nightโs work. I knew if I let him get in his groove he would do everything he could to go the distance with me. So the tactic from the opening bell was to just put it on him and not let him settle, which is what I did.
โIโm always my own biggest critic. I could land my first punch and knock my opponent out in four seconds and Iโd still find fault in the performance. Thatโs just how I am. But, overall, I was happy to get the win and the win is the main objective.โ
His next opponent, Salek, 17-3 (13), is younger than Gorman at 23 and another heavyweight from the Czech Republic. He also happened to defeat Pavel Sour in his most recent fight, although, unlike Gorman, had to go the 10-round distance to secure what was a revenge win (Sour outpointed Salek in 2019) earlier this year.
โIโm a big believer in different styles making different fights,โ said Gorman. โIn years gone by weโve seen Joe Frazier get destroyed by George Foreman, Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali, and Muhamad Ali beat George Foreman, so you canโt look too deeply into results and common opponents. For some people comparing results might provide a confidence boost, but all I try to concentrate on is me, and I know that on Friday it will take the best of me to beat Tomas Salek.
โIโm expecting the best of him, too. Heโs been active, heโs had two 10-rounders since I last fought, and heโs young and ambitious. If I were in his shoes, Iโd be looking at this as a great opportunity. Heโs topping the bill on Channel 5 and itโs his time to shine. Heโs coming off two good wins and has just won his national title. Iโve been inactive for 15 months.โ
Interestingly, whereas so many boxers today seem determined to dismiss the idea of watching footage of their opponent before facing them, Gorman, a student of the game, embraces both the idea and the capacity to do so.
โI watch him nearly every night,โ he said of Salek. โIn fact, I study opponents all the time. I watch virtually everybody in the heavyweight division, from the ones making their debut to established champions. After all, you never know whatโs around the corner.โ
He added: โI could be wrong, but I think thatโs an old clichรฉ (refusing to watch your opponent). Itโs not like youโre going in there to play tiddlywinks. Youโre going to have a fight and it makes sense to know your opponent inside and out.
โBy watching them every night, youโre not saying youโre afraid of them. I think some people try to act all hard and pretend they donโt want their opponent. But thatโs never been me. Most boxers do watch their opponents, I believe, itโs just that they donโt want to admit it.โ
In terms of what he has seen in his next opponent, Gorman has seen little to be concerned about but just enough to keep him concentrated, focus and sharp. It is a fight he knows he should be winning and a fight, at this stage of his career, he needs to be winning.
โHeโs got a high knockout percentage, heโs a come-forward fighter, and he throws big punches,โ Gorman said. โAs weโve seen in the heavyweight division throughout history, one punch can change everything, so Iโve got to remain switched on and do what I do best. Iโve got to get the win by any means necessary.
โThis is an important night for me. Iโm topping my own show in Liverpool, live on Channel 5, and it doesnโt get much bigger really. There will potentially be millions of people tuning in to watch me, which is great, but all Iโm focusing on is performing on the night. Thatโs the main focus for me. I just want to win and move on.โ