Women’s Boxing: Marston Looks To Follow In Haye’s Footsteps

As Bermondsey, South London’s most famous boxing son David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye enters the final stages of his preparations to defend his WBA Heavyweight World title against former Olympic Gold medalist Audley Harrison, in Manchester on the 13th November, another Bermondsey resident, Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston, prepares to begin her journey as a professional boxer with World Championship aspirations, a little closer to home at York Hall in Bethnal Green, East London, just a few weeks later on the 4th December.

Whilst we all know David’s story – excellent amateur career, as a professional only lost one fight in 25 outings, secured the European, WBC, WBA and WBO Cruiserweight titles and then after only his second fight at the weight lifted the WBA Heavyweight title after beating Nikolay Valuev – Marianne’s is just as impressive, albeit in a very different way.

Marianne’s story is far more international than local. She was discovered and mentored by legendary Heavyweight Champion of the World Smokin’ Joe Frazier, who went on record stating Marianne will be World Champion, and was very much part of Cruiserweight Champion of the World Steve ‘USS’ Cunningham’s Philadelphia based team before returning to London where she is now managed by Johnny Eames and trained by Derek Grainger at their Ultrachem TKO Gym team in Canning Town.

Marianne explained how she came to be trained in America in the first place, “It was while I was on a business trip, I accidentally met Joe Frazier at a coffee shop in Philadelphia. I didn’t even realise it was him at the time.

The only spare places were at my table and Joe asked if it was OK to sit there. We got talking and the conversation got onto boxing and I told him I had been training a bit. He asked me to show him my shadow boxing, so I did. He then told me who he was and gave me a card, which I still have and treasure, and then said to come and try out at his gym.

I was so nervous, I mean this is the man that beat Ali and was World Champion. I mean he’s a legend. Anyway I did, he liked me and asked me to join his team.

Unfortunately Joe had to close the gym in 2008 so I moved my training to The James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philadelphia.

After I had been training there a couple of months Steve and Livvy (Cunningham) invited me to be part of their team. I really loved my time at Shulers, that place is a true fight factory. I would be training alongside Steve, Eddie (‘Fast’ Eddie Chambers), Yusuf (Mack) and many other champions. It was awesome.”

Her clear ability earned her the kudos of being offered an unprecedented twelve fight contract by American promoter Ivan Cohen. Her American debut was due to be in May last year against former American sparring partner Christina Leadbeater. Unfortunately that was not to be as when her required visa was turned down by the American Embassy in London.

“It was like being stabbed through the heart” Marianne said of the Embassy refusing her visa. “They said that Women’s boxing is not a professional sport. It’s crazy I had all the right paperwork and a twelve fight contract in my hand yet they wouldn’t take me seriously. It had been OK for me to train in America, have a home in America but they wouldn’t let me box professionally in America.

Ivan (Cohen) went berserk hearing that, so did the Philadelphia press who campaigned for me to be allowed to fight there.”

Not being one to give up on her dream Marianne initially went to a local gym at London Bridge before moving to the Ultrachem TKO Gym in Canning Town where she impressed Johnny Eames, whose disapproval of Women’s boxing is legendary, and became the first female boxer signed to his highly successful boxing stable.

“It’s an honour to be part of the Ultrachem TKO team. TKO is just like Shulers it’s a true pro boxing gym, it really is the best boxing gym in Europe.” Marianne said of her UK training base. “Shulers has some of America’s best coaches and fighters, TKO has many of the UK’s best. It even feels like Shulers at times, I feel really at home there. I mean they are great coaches and I train alongside some world class British fighters.

On only my second day at TKO I was shadow boxing in one of the rings and Kevin Mitchell climbed in and shadow boxed alongside me. I stopped at one point as I had spotted a move he had made out of the corner of my eye.

During the break I mentioned it to him and he showed me exactly what the move was. He was preparing for his fight with Michael Katsides at the time yet he took the time to help me. Now that’s class. That’s TKO.

Derek (Grainger) was a great boxer and is an top class coach. But it’s not just Derek when you’re a TKO fighter. If Derek can’t make it in for any reason I am coached by Johnny (Eames) or Alec (Wilkey) and Brian (Lawrence), Jimmy (Tibbs) and Mark (Tibbs) often watch the sparring and give advice, as do some of the fighters. It really is a family, everyone cares about every fighter and will help when they can.”

Marianne’s British debut will be against the very tough Lana Cooper from Wales, as such Johnny Eames arranged quality sparring with the highly experienced Welterweight Angel ‘The Artist’ McKenzie and the UK’s number one Lightweight Laura Saperstein, who have both fought Lana Cooper, as well as Olympian Ruth Raper and unbeaten Bantamweight Laura Norton to ensure she will be fight ready.

“There’s nothing like good sparring to get ready for a fight and Johnny and Derek have got me the best.” Marianne said, “I’ve sparred with Angel a lot and also previously sparred Ruth but have yet to spar either Laura and am looking forward to our sessions over the coming weeks.

With the world class training and sparring I will be 100% ready for Lana. We’re both pressure fighters so I expect it to be a real tear up. I’ll enjoy that, I’m ready for that.”

We couldn’t let Marianne go without first asking who she expects to win the upcoming David ‘Hayemaker’ Haye versus Audley ‘A Force’ Harrison fight. “I was there, right in the front row, when Audley knocked out Michael Sprott for the European title.” Marianne said before continuing, “It was a wicked left, lethal. but that’s about all he did all fight, Michael was less than two minutes from winning by a clear margin.

I think David is by far the more complete boxer. Against Valuev he stayed out of range, attacked at pace and got out before Valuev could let rip with any big shots. I think he’ll do the same with Audley. Definitely David Haye will still be the champ at the end of the night.”

Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston versus Lana Cooper will be supporting Yassine El Maachi defense of his International Masters Light Middleweight title, against Jimmy Colas at the Steve Goodwin promoted “Judgement Day” double title event at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London on Saturday the 4th December 2010.

For tickets, priced £35 (Unreserved) and £60 (Ringside), call 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA.