Wasserman Boxing promote at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool this Friday night, and the main event sees the first outing of 2022 for Nathan Gorman, who meets Czech Tomas Salek for the IBF International heavyweight title over a scheduled ten rounds.
Channel 5 televise Gorman vs Salek in the UK.
Gorman (18-1, 12 KOs) has endured a frustrating couple of years that has seen his progress checked, but he still harbours big ambitions in the division, at just 25-years-old.
The Nantwich native, cousin of WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury made a bright, undefeated start to professional life, but was ruthlessly beaten when stepping-up in class against Daniel Dubois in July 2019, where he was dropped, and then knocked out in five rounds in a vacant British title tilt.
Since then the rebuild has been gradual. Richard Lartey was widely outscored in a Commonwealth title eliminator in October 2020, and Gorman, who makes his Wasserman bow, was last seen in March last year, dropping Pavel Sour five times in a second round win.
Sour was also the last opponent of Salek (17-3, 13 KOs) back in March, and the 23-year-old won the Czech title with a close points win over ten rounds.
Salek lost to Sour on the cards April 2019. That explains the gulf in class in this one, and with the visitor halted twice in three defeats, the last coming against Kash Ali in three rounds May last year.
Heavyweight FACE OFF 😤@GormanBoxing goes face to face with Tom Salek before the IBF International Heavyweight Championship is on the line, this Friday from 9pm @channel5_tv 🔥@SauerlandBros @WilliamHill #GormanSalek pic.twitter.com/owsi78vt9U
— Wasserman Boxing (@WassermanBoxing) June 15, 2022
Prediction: Gorman will need stiffer tests than these ones, and he should deal with Salek with relative ease. I expect him to be able to halt him in the early rounds.
Josh Kelly makes long-awaited return
The undercard has been lost a good looking contest on paper, with Marcel Braithwaite against Thomas Essomba biting the dust due to a shoulder injury sustained by Braithwaite.
Josh Kelly should also be in action on the card, but the Sunderland man has had little luck with last minute withdrawals from his side and the opponent’s.
The 28-year-old’s scheduled opponent last month pulled out with minutes to go to fight time, in a dispute over contracted weight, and ‘PBK’ will face Peter Kramer over a scheduled ten at super welterweight.
Kelly (10-1-1, 6 KOs) is coming off a devastating loss to David Avanesyan last year, but should have way too much for Hungary’s Kramer (12-5-3, 8 KOs), who has won twice in his last eight, and was stopped in four in 2018 against Sam Eggington.
Prediction: Kelly can win before the halfway mark.
Remaining Undercard
Home favourite, Chloe Watson (2-0), who is trained by Ricky Hatton, should remain unbeaten in her Flyweight bout with Fara El Bousairi (5-2, 2 KOs).
Former Geordie Shore star, Aaron Chalmers makes his professional boxing debut, and he should take a points win against Alexander Zeledon (6-28-3) at middleweight.
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Mason Cartwright (17-3-1, 7 KOs) was edged out by Troy Williamson in a British title tilt last time out, but he can come back with a points win against Angel Emilov (10-40-1, 6 KOs) at super welterweight.
At super lightweight, Tom Farrell (20-5, 5 KOs) can return from defeat in the final of a BOXXER tournament to outscore Olaide Fijabi (16-2, 8 KOs) over six, and at the same weight, Tom Aitchison (6-0, 1 KO) should outpoint Ezequiel Gregores (3-11).
At super featherweight, Marcus Molloy (5-0, 1 KO) should do the same, again over six, against Gadatamen Taylor (4-10-1).
Heavyweight hope Matty Harris (2-0, 1 KO) can halt Pawel Strykowski (3-17-1) inside the distance, and at super welterweight, Paddy Lacey (5-0) should get by debutant Ryan Broten on the cards.
John Edwardson (2-0) should do the same against Stefan Nicolae (3-33-2, 1 KO) at super featherweight.
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