MBC International Championship On The Rise – First Up Marston-Gulyas, London, Oct 25th

The BoxFit UK sponsored MBC International Championship may only have been launched in June this year, but already there is one Champion crowned – MBC International Cruiserweight Champion Mark Prince – and there are at least a further two Championship bouts lined up for this year.

The first of these features London, UK’s Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston versus Hungary’s Marianna Gulyas for the vacant MBC International Female Super Bantamweight title, which will take place on the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted Capital Punishment event at York Hall in London, UK on Saturday 25^th October.

Gulyas – who is currently ranked #1 in Hungary, #3 in Europe and #30 in the World by industry records site www.BoxRec.com - comes into the fight off a points victory over Veronika Hornyak.

Whilst Marston – who is ranked by BoxRec as #1 in the UK, #8 in Europe and #58 in the World – comes off a close split decision loss to Hana Horacova, when they fought for the WBU European Featherweight title back in March.

As with the Prince-Savina title bout in August, London based entrepreneur Baz Rehman will be sponsoring the Marston-Gulyas MBC International Championship bout on the 25^th October.

Further information or tickets for this event please go to the event website www.acourtier.com or Marston’s websitewww.mariannemarston.com

The second confirmed Championship will take place on the Shyam Batra SSE Promotions event, that takes place at Newham Leisure Centre in London, UK on Saturday 22^nd November.

This event will see George ‘Hithard’ Hillyard challenge for the vacant MBC international Middleweight title, against a yet to be announced opponent.

Hillyard comes into the Championship bout off a solid points victory, over Ireland’s Tommy ‘The Tiger’ Tolan on August 2^nd.

Currently three further MBC International Championships are in negotiations, one of these proposed bouts is set to take place in Birmingham, UK in October and two in November, one in Malta the other America.

MBC International Championship Chairman Mr. Al Low spoke briefly on the upcoming championship bouts.

“We’re really pleased at the progress we are making, it’s less than four months since we launched the MBC International Championship and yet here we are with one Champion already, two more title fights lined-up, as well as more in negotiations.

We were proud to crown our first Champion, Mark Prince, on August 2^nd and am just as proud to hold our first Female Championship bout later this month.

By the end of 2014 we will have at least three Champions crowned, possibly more, which we feel is a positive position to be in, especially as that is not just within our first year, but in reality that will be within our first six months of operating the Championship.

We wish both Marianne Marston and Marianna Gulyas success onOctober 25, although only one will be crowned Champion, we also wish George Hillyard and whoever challenges him success also.”

For further information on the MBC International Championship please go to www.mbcchampionshipboxing.com

Follow on Facebook - www.facebook.com/MBCInternationalChampionship and Twitter -www.twitter.com/MBCBoxing

Prince Outpoints Svacina To Secure MBC International Title

After a fourteen year sabbatical Mark Prince returned to the championship fray on Saturday night, in doing so adds the MBC International title to the WBO and IBF Inter-Continental title honours he won in the 1990s

Mark Prince added the MBC International Championship belt to his trophy cabinet, following a unanimous points victory over Czech Republic’s Jiri Svacina, at York Hall in London on Saturday night.

Since his return to the sport in October last year, to raise awareness for the Kiyan Prince Foundation - Prince’s son Kiyan, a talented young footballer with Queens Park Rangers who was murdered in 2006, the foundation in his name is dedicated to educating young people against knife crime - Prince had only two bouts prior to facing Svacina, both ended well within the distance, leaving most observers expecting an explosive early finish from the Tottenham man.

However, no one took into account just how tough and awkward an opponent Svacina is, or just how much the sparring sessions with Wladimir Klitschko had added to his game.

From the start it was clear this was going to be a technical fight, both protagonists taking it really slow, feeling each other out with strong jabs but little else.

Throughout the early rounds Prince mainly used his jab to try and work an opening, but Svacina is a savvy character, keeping his awkward guard in place throughout.

As the rounds progressed, without too much out and out action, referee Steve Holdsworth pulled the pair together, to give them a stiff talking to about the lack of action, after which both reacted with a flurry of attacks.

Without doubt the best attacks came from Prince, who controlled centre ring throughout, however Svacina’s countering kept the Londoner in check.

After the final bell rang, there was no surprise that it was Mark Prince that was announced victorious, by unanimous decision.

Judges Tony Cesay and Lee Murtagh scored the bout 100-90, whilst judge Keith Webb scored the bout 100 -93.

Following the bout Mark Prince said,

“Firstly I must thank Shyam (promoter Shyam Batra) for giving me this opportunity and Baz (Rehman) for sponsoring the fight.

He’s (Svacina) an awkward customer, he frustrated me, I wanted to step things up but couldn’t risk it, he throws shots from unusual angles.

I’m happy to have gone the distance, it’s good to get the rounds in, though disappointed for the fans that the fight was not that thrilling to watch.

Winning the title mean so much to me, but it means much more to the memory of my wonderful talented son Kiyan and those we help through the Kiyan Prince Foundation.

That’s what this is all about, it’s not personal glory, it’s to show the young people, that the KPF come into contact with that anything is possible, if you want it and are dedicated enough you too can be a winner.”

Due to a spate of late injuries and pullouts on the proposed ten fight card, including a very late ham string injury for former England amateur Captain Antonio Counihan, the decimated card featured just five bouts.

With the loss of the second MBC International title fight, also due to injury, the revised main support bout also featured a recent returnee, George ‘Hit Hard’ Hillyard, who faced tough Irishman Tommy ‘The Tiger’ Tolan.

An enthralling close fought, bloody affair, that entertained the York Hall faithful from start to finish, this bout quite rightly earned the accolade of Fight of the Night.

After six all action rounds the bloodied Hillyard came out on top by a 59-55 points decision from referee Steve Holdsworth.

In the third bout of the night American Manny Muhammad secured another solid win, over Lithuania’s Ernastas Dapkus. Referee Lee Murtagh scoring the bout 39-37

Former amateur star Nathan ‘Nightmare’ Decastro survived a major scare in the build up to the fight, just one week earlier suffering a serious ankle injury – so serious that initially it was diagnosed as broken! but you wouldn’t have thought it by his performance. Decastro pressured tough Lithuanian Sergej Drob for virtually every second of the four round out, to secure a 40-36 points victory.

The opening bout featured the highly rated former Senegalese amateur star Matar Sambou making his professional debut, against Tadas Stulginskas, who KO’d Suz Member in just over a minute on his last visit to York Hall back in March.

It was another short fight for Stulginskas, although this time it was Sambou in the ascendance, stopping the Lithuanian in just one minute and forty seconds of the first round.

Without doubt it was a baptism of fire for new promoter Shyam Batra, one that he came through with flying colours. Congratulations are also in order for the Malta Boxing Commission who sanctioned the event.

The Baz Rehman sponsored Mark Prince versus Jiri Svacina MBC International Cruiserweight title clash and the support bouts, were broadcast live on-line by Boxing Evolution, repeat plays are available on www.boxingevolution.tv.

Weights & Quotes From London - Prince-Svacina and Hillyard-Tolan

The public weigh-in and press conference for both the Baz Rehman sponsored Mark Prince versus Jiri Svacina MBC International Cruiserweight Championship bout, as well as the main support fight between London’s George ‘Hit Hard’ Hillyard and Belfast’s Tommy ‘The Tiger’ Tolan, took place place at The Roof E2 venue in London earlier today.

WEIGHTS & QUOTES

MARK PRINCE - 86.6kg

More than happy, over the moon with my weight, would say spot on, but am actually under the weight.

I see myself showcasing my skills, see myself getting rewarded for showing my skills and it coming by KO, that’s all I can see.

I’m not going to go in there and try and bang him out, not trying to do anything, I’m going to go out there and entertain and show people my skills, I’m a very skilled fighter and I want to show that I am a level above a lot more than most of the potential opponents out there and I deserve to be at the top level, where I belong, so I’m looking forward to it man.

JIRI SVACINA - 88.8kg

I’m very happy for the fight, It’s very great for me to box for the title.

GEORGE HILLYARD – 72.3kg

I’m ready, I’m on the weight, everything’s perfect, I’ve done everything correct this time so I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, that’s it.

TOMMY TOLAN – 73.4kg

Absolutely tip top, a hundred percent ready, I’ve trained hard for this at camp and looking forward to tomorrow.

The Baz Rehman sponsored Mark Prince versus Jiri Svacina for the MBC International Cruiserweight Title, headlines the Shyam Batra SSE Promoted CALL OF DUTY event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 2^nd August 2014.

Tickets are still available, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) are available direct from any of the boxers taking part, on-line atwww.tkoboxoffice.com or call the TKO Box Office ticket line on 07960 850645, alternatively limited tickets will be available to purchase on the night.

The CALL OF DUTY event is available to watch live and exclusive on-line atwww.boxingevolution.tv for just £4.99 (approx. $US8.50, €Euro 6.30)

For further information on this event or future SSE promoted events please go towww.showtimesportsevents.com or see our Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/ShowtimeSportsEvents also please follow on twitter: @SSEPromotions - https://twitter.com/SSEPromotions

Prince-Svacina and Hillyard-Tolan Public Weigh-in and Press ConferenceThis Friday at The Roof E2

The public weigh-in and press conference for both the Baz Rehman sponsored Mark Prince versus Jiri Svacina MBC International Cruiserweight Championship bout, as well as the main support fight between London’s George ‘Hit Hard’ Hillyard and Belfast’s Tommy ‘The Tiger’ Tolan, will take place at The Roof E2, Raine’s Foundation Upper School, Approach Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9LY at 4pm on Friday 1^st August 2014.

Mark Prince, Jiri Svacina, George Hillyard, Tommy Tolan and promoter Shyam Batra will all be available for interviews and photo opportunities.

On announcing the venue for Friday’s weigh-in and press conference promoter Shyam Batra said.

“The Roof E2 is a stunning location for the weigh-in and press conference, it provides an unequalled panoramic view above the roof tops of Canary Wharf and surrounding area.

I’m hoping we’ll get a good turn out for the boys, ahead of their big fights at York Hall on Saturday night.

The fighters will be available for photos with the fans as well as obviously for interviews with the press.

As for fight night, I can’t wait, it’s going to be really special, so if you haven’t already got tickets, get them now, this is the last chance to watch boxing live in London until the new season.”

The Baz Rehman sponsored Mark Prince versus Jiri Svacina for the MBC International Cruiserweight Title, headlines the Shyam Batra SSE Promoted CALL OF DUTY event at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 2^nd August 2014.

Tickets are still available, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) are available direct from any of the boxers taking part, on-line atwww.tkoboxoffice.com or call the TKO Box Office ticket line on 07960 850645, alternatively limited tickets will be available to purchase on the night.

The CALL OF DUTY event is available to watch live and exclusive on-line atwww.boxingevolution.tv for just £4.99 (approx. $US8.50, €Euro 6.30)

For further information on this event or future SSE promoted events please go towww.showtimesportsevents.com or see our Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/ShowtimeSportsEvents also please follow on twitter: @SSEPromotions - https://twitter.com/SSEPromotions