NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS: Marianne Marston Gets Mighty Serious Ahead Of Oct 4th Fight – Enlists ‘Dappa’ Napa As Sparring Partner – BOXING NEWS

Woolwich, London based Super Bantamweight Marianne Marston has enlisted former British and European Bantamweight Champion Ian ‘Dappa’ Napa as her main sparring partner, as she prepares for her upcoming bout on the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted mega fourteen bout show ‘NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS’, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday 4th October.

Marianne, who back in April sensationally stopped Hungarian #1 ranked Gabriella Roman in just one minute and forty seven seconds of the first round, is being fast tracked for a WBF International title fight by her promoter Dave Murphy and World Boxing Federation President Howard Goldberg – which if everything goes according to plan will take place in London on November 30th this year.

But before then she will have to deal with Masa Bacanov, who she faces on the Demis Tonna Prize Boxing Promotions ‘Rumble in the Med Part IV – Judgement Day’ event at the Dolmen Hotel and Spa Resort in Bugibba, Malta on August 30th and against a yet to be named opponent, who she will be fighting on the mega ‘NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS’ event at York Hall on October 4th.

It’s with these key fights in mind that lead Marianne to suggest to her promoter, the aforementioned Dave Murphy, approaching her long time gym mate Ian Napa to be her regular sparring partner.

The choice of ‘Dappa’ as a sparring partner is clearly an inspired move, during his thirteen year career Ian won seven Championship bouts, acquiring and defending the Southern Area (Flyweight) and both the British and European Bantamweight titles, as well as challenging for a World crown at Flyweight.

Not just that though, during his exceptional career Ian has fought a who’s who of Champions, including: Jason Booth, Oleg Kiryukhin and Peter Culshaw at Flyweight and Jason Booth again, Martin Power, Simone Maludrottu, Lee Haskins, Carmello Ballone, Malik Bouziane, Gary Davies, Jamie McDonnell and Stuart Hall at Bantamweight.

Speaking after their second sparring session, at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, a clearly pleased Marianne spoke about the new acquisition to her team.

“It’s awesome, just awesome to spar with such a talented boxer like Ian.

I can’t deny that I have been a big fan of Ian for years, even when I was living and training in Philadelphia I would never miss any of his fights.

When I came back to London I was lucky enough to train at the same gym as him, Ben Murphy and Erick ‘The Eagle” Ochieng, then shortly after I moved to the TRAD TKO their coach Bryan Lawrence also moved his team here, so we’ve sort of trained side by side for the past three years or so.

Ian’s seriously technical and has an almost impenetrable defense, he really is the perfect sparring partner for me to learn from.

Let’s face it if I can survive his constant pressure and wicked shots, as well as actually get through that defense then I’m doing pretty well.

I can’t think of any better sparring I could possibly get, don’t get me wrong I appreciate all and any sparring I get, just the sparring I get from Ian is of such high quality that I will benefit from it even more.

I seriously doubt that there will be any opponent that will test me anywhere close to the way he does.

I’ve another couple of sessions to go with Ian before I go to Malta to fight Masa (Bacanov) and then when I get back hopefully we’ll get straight back into sparring, so I can be a hundred percent ready for October 4th.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking past Masa, anything but – she’s one tough cookie that not only boxes but is also a competitive kickboxer – but I already know that I will be handed a seriously tough test on October 4th and really that’s the fight I have got Ian in to make sure I am a hundred percent ready for.

Fighting at the York Hall on such a massive bill, I mean there’s two World title fights headlining a massive fourteen fight card, it will be such a thrill and I want to give the very best account of myself I can, I don’t want to just win, I want to win in style.

I’m hoping that I can get some rounds in this time, getting first round stoppage wins is great for my record, but I want to showcase my boxing skills and to do that I really do need to get some rounds under my belt, plus it’ll be nice to give my sponsors, Optimax, Winkball, BoxFit and TRAD TKO more than just two minutes ring exposure.

Saying that I’ll do what I have to do, if that means another early stoppage finish, so it goes. I’m extremely competitive by nature and want my fight to be the one the fans go home talking about.”

Marianne Marston, against a yet to be named opponent, will feature on the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted ‘NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS’ event, headlined by Michel Trabant vs TBA and Jennifer Retzke versus Angel McKenzie World title clashes, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Friday, 4th October 2013

Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) are available on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com – www.mariannemarston.com – www.acourtier.com – or in person from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning town – www.tkoboxinggym.com – and Ringtone Gym in Euston – www.ringtonehealthandfitness.com – or from any of the boxers taking part in the event, or call – 07960 850645, 07809 499896 or 07557 641597 for further information.

Go online to www.Acourtier.com for additional information on the NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS event or the Acourtier stable of boxers. Follow Acourtier Events on Twitter @AcourtierEvents – friend us at www.Facebook.com/AcourtierEvents and on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/acourtier-events

 Follow Marianne ‘ Golden Girl’ Marston, for updates and schedule go to: Web: www.mariannemarston.com – Twitter: @MarianneMarston and Facebook: www.facebook.com/marianne.marston