The first instalment of 2019 for JD NXTGEN hits the East of England Arena in Peterborough this Saturday, as local favourite, Jordan Gill tops the bill for the first time. 2018 was a real breakout year for the Chatteris man, and he aims to build on his success.
His opponent, on paper, seems a fairly straightforward assignment for Gill. We have in the last year though, seen upset wins on these shores for Francisco Patera against Lewis Ritson, Diego Ramirez shockingly stopping Bradley Skeete, and more recently, Ted Cheeseman being dominated by Sergio Garcia.
Mexican import, Emmanuel Dominguez is the man in the opposite corner to Gill this weekend, and he will aim to add to this list. Sky Sports is the place to watch in the UK, with DAZN on board in the US.
Jordan Gill (22-0, KO6) v Emmanuel Dominguez (24-7-2, KO16) – 12 Rounds, WBA International Featherweight Title
Cambridgeshire resident, Jordan “The Thrill” Gill had a stellar 2018, where he finally emerged as a breakthrough talent. The Dave Coldwell trained 24 year old was a well-guarded secret amongst the fight fraternity, impressing on various small hall shows and at the lower end of cards since his debut in July 2012. His time came on a NXTGEN show in February last year in Manchester, in a near perfect performance against former two weight Commonwealth Champion, Jason Cunningham. Gill scored two knockdowns before widely outscoring the Doncaster man over ten rounds, his first trip past six rounds, that he passed with flying colours.
Two lower profile fights kept Gill ticking over, with a six round points win over Carl McDonald in May, backed up by a first round stoppage of David Berna in Cardiff in August. This set up a shot at the Commonwealth Featherweight Title. Ryan Doyle went into the fight at the Copper Box Arena as Champion, and also following a career best stoppage win over the previously unbeaten Reece Bellotti. Gill again impressed, knocking Doyle down with body shots in the seventh, before a follow up barrage lead to referee Victor Loughlin stopping the contest.
Gill now steps into continental class, and looks to add the ranking building WBA International Title to his collection. He has now vacated the Commonwealth Title, which will be contested on the undercard.
His opponent is the lightly regarded Mexican, Emmanuel Dominguez, who arrives in Peterborough with a modest record. He fights in Europe for the very first time, after bouts in his native Mexico, Honduras, and one assignment in America. Each time he has lost, it’s been to opposition that have had only a handful of fights, or with not so spectacular records. The only exception to this is Dominguez’s most recent defeat. Toka Kahn Cleary outscored him comfortably enough over ten in June last year, before going on to lose an IBF Title eliminator to Kid Galahad later in the year.
Dominguez has won his last two fights however. A retirement win in six against Miguel Gonzalez in September, and a third round stoppage against Carlos Banuelos in November, both in his home country, have at least put him back in the winner’s circle.
Prediction
I expect Jordan Gill to put on a show in Peterborough this Saturday night, and Emmanuel Dominguez seems the perfect opponent for this.
Gill has a great work rate and engine, and his body attacks are particularly impressive. I think these attacks could hold the key to an early night. The pick is for Gill to break down the Mexican, and his heart, for a stoppage victory around the halfway mark.
It’s a decent domestic scene at Featherweight, and Gill will have one eye on the British Title, currently held by the underrated Ryan Walsh. With Gamal Yafai, Isaac Lowe and James “Jazza” Dickens all lurking in the division, there are some good matches to be made.
