Home Columns One To Watch: Dorion ‘118’ Krasmaru

One To Watch: Dorion ‘118’ Krasmaru

Is Dorion Krasmaru the next Ukrainian superstar? Krasmaru has been the main sparring partner for Daniel Dubois for the past three years.

Daniel Dubois and his long time sparring partner Dorion Krasmaru. Photo Credit: Martin Bowers
Daniel Dubois and his long time sparring partner Dorion Krasmaru. Photo Credit: Martin Bowers

The Ukraine has been a hotbed for the finest amateur talent with Anatoly ‘Papachenko’ Lomachenko at the helm. The sport has seen the likes of his son Vasiliy Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk and, the recently retired, Oleksandr Gvozdyk take over the professional ranks in recent years and now there’s a new kid on the block. 

Dorion Krasmaru has found it hard to find opposition to match his talent and to outlast his power. With just one outing in each of 2018 and 2019, it hasn’t been the ideal start to his pro career but he does get his third outing this Friday evening as boxing returns to the UK.

The 27-year-old currently holds a perfect record after two professional bouts, stopping two opponents who had winning records at the time. Krasmaru was straight off the Ukrainian merry-go-round to Canning Town. 

February 2018 saw the Heavyweight join forces with Martin Bowers of the Peacock Gym. The pair signed a fighter-manager deal with Bowers overseeing his charge’s debut in December of the same year.

Instantly, Krasmaru was a part of the team, as he homed a new nickname ‘118,’ as he weighed 118 kilos upon joining Bowers.

Krasmaru forced the referee into stopping his debut in the second round as his pro career got off to the perfect start against Colin ‘Butch’ Goldhawk. Following his debut, some 11 months later Dorion was finally back in the ring once more, but not for long. 

Unbeaten at the time, Matt Gordon accepted the challenge but was no match, as he wasn’t fit to hear the sound of the bell to end the first round. 

Krasmaru and his Peacock gym mates before putting in roadwork. Photo Credit: Martin Bowers
Krasmaru and his Peacock gym mates before putting in roadwork. Photo Credit: Martin Bowers

After 37 amateur bouts the Ukrainian relocated to Sidcup where he resides now, according to Boxrec, and approaching three years as a professional his lack of bouts may be a worrying factor, but there has been no lack of sparring at hand.

In his three years and five months at the Peacock Gym, Krasmaru has been the main sparring partner for rising star, Daniel Dubois.

The 22-year-old is the current British and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion, but is on the cusp of a World title shot should he overcome his next opponent, Joe Joyce, in October. None of this may have been possible without the help, and over 1500 rounds, provided by Krasmaru.

Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce will collide on October 24th at the O2 Arena Photo Credit: Frank Warren
Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce will collide on October 24th at the O2 Arena Photo Credit: Frank Warren

Frank Warren is the leading promoter to bring boxing back into Britain after the global pandemic, COVID-19, put a halt to the sporting world, and much more.

Friday, July 11 at the BT studios the world will get to see the talent possessed by Dorion. 

In the opposing corner will be Phil Williams, a man who has only been stopped three times in 28 professional fights, indicating that Krasmaru should be able to get some valuable rounds under his belt. If he stops Williams, he makes a real statement to the rest of the division. 

Only Kash Ali, Fabio Wardley, who finds himself fighting for the English Heavyweight title himself in August, and Lucien Atana have forced the referee into stopping the bouts with Williams. 

The 34-year-old has certainly been more active than Krasmaru, as you would expect with a road warrior, fighting four times in 2020 alone before the country was put on lockdown. 

One thing is for certain, should the Ukrainian claim the win via a devastating knockout, we could certainly be seeing him grace our television screens for years to come. As often is the case when a fighter is hard to match they are fast tracked.

Dorion Krasmaru, remember the name.

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