FORMER world champion Glenn McCrory has given Nantwich’s Nathan Gorman his seal of approval as he builds towards a shot at the English title.

The 20-year-old heavyweight has won all seven of his professional bouts, six of them inside the distance, and has two fights scheduled in the near future.

His next test comes in the shape of big-hitting Georgian Gogita Gorgiladze in Stoke on Saturday night before travelling to London to face Dominic Akinlade for the vacant English belt on April 1.

McCrory, who is a former IBF cruiserweight champion, has predicted good things for Gorman and believes Ricky Hatton, himself a former two-weight world champion, is the right person to guide his career.

“Nathan Gorman is a good kid. He’s over six foot four, has seven wins from seven fights at 20 years of age and he’s one that has a really bright future ahead of him,” he said.

“This is a time with some really good young heavyweights coming through and Nathan is in the mix with them.

“It’s still early days in his career, but he’s ticked all the boxes so far and what I’ve seen of him suggests he’s one to watch. I think his future is potentially huge.”

Gorman’s last fight came on November 26 when he stopped Croatian Igor Mihaljevic in the third of six rounds.

Saturday’s fight against Gorgiladze, who has lost 15 of his 49 professional bouts, and the title fight with Akinlade will both be 10-round contests.

Gorman, the nephew of legendary bareknuckle fighter Bartley Gorman, has only had one scheduled 10-round fight, but that ended early as he knocked David Howe out in the first round on October 1.

When the title fight was made, 36-year-old Akinlade had an unblemished professional record but he surrendered that on Saturday.

He was beaten on points by Yorkshireman Josh Sandland in a six-round contest in London.