WBU European Featherweight Championship
1st March 2014 @ York Hall, Bethnal Green, London
For Immediate Release
London, UK – Tuesday 25th February 2014
Marianne Marston: I’ve waited longer and worked harder, I will be the Champion On March 1st
It was officially announced earlier today that instead of challenging Galina Gumliiska, for the World Boxing Union European Super Bantamweight title this coming Saturday, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, TRAD TKO Gym’s Marianne Marston will instead be challenging Czech Republic’s Hana Horakova, for the Featherweight version of the WBU European strap.
This forced change apparently came about after Galina Gumliiska failed to receive medical clearance from Professional Boxing League Of Bulgaria.
After frantic calls, by Dave Murphy, Marianne’s promoter, to try and secure a Championship eligible Super Bantamweight for his charge, an agreement was reached with Hana Horakova’s management.
However this was done on the proviso that the bout be made at Featherweight as Hana would struggle to get much below 57kg in time, the required Championship weight limit for Super Bantamweight being 55.34kg.
This caused concerns for Marianne’s coach, Brian O’Shaughnessy, as Marianne had been comfortably below the maximum Super Bantamweight Championship weight limit for over a week.
After discussions between coach, manager and of course Marianne, it was decided that if they could get the Featherweight title authorized they’ll go for it, so started another round of frantic phone calls, this time back and forth between London and WBU headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
At around ten o’clock last night the authorization was secured and an announcement made by World Boxing Union President Don Lewis.
On receiving the news, a relieved Marianne said, “I can’t thank Don Lewis enough for this opportunity in the first place, but for him to make this last minute change is way beyond the call of duty.
It really is an honour, I’m excited to get the opportunity to fight for such a famous title, one of my all time heroes Ricky Hatton was a WBU Champion, so this really is something special for me.”
Even though her opponent is far more experienced, being a fourteen fight veteran, as well as challenged for the WBF Intercontinental Lightweight title as recently as October last year, Marianne believes that it is her that has the advantage.
Pointing to the exceptional sparring sessions with former British and European Champion Ian ‘Dappa’ Napa, two time ABA, five time National Champion Sunny Edwards and TRAD TKO gym mates Sam Cantwell and Joe Stevens, undertaken over the past weeks.
“We’ve watched her videos already, especially the title fight against Natalia (Smirnova).
Brian’s noticed certain things that we can capitalize on, it goes to show it really is worth studying your opponent at any opportunity.
If he believes I can cope with her, I can cope with her, he wouldn’t put me in with someone that I didn’t stand a chance of beating, he and Dave (Murphy) haven’t steered me wrong yet.
I will be the WBU European Champion, I’ve waited longer and worked harder than I would have ever thought possible and I’m not letting this go, but it’s not just about winning it, it’s about winning it in style, I have got to box well, boxing fantastically really, it means everything to me to become the World Boxing Union European Champion.”
Marianne Marston versus Hana Horakova, for the World Boxing Union European Featherweight title, co-headlines the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events WARZONE Event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green in London on Saturday, 1st March 2014.
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) & £60 (Ringside) are available from the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, or call the TRAD TKO ticket line on 07960 850645.
Alternatively tickets can be purchased on-line atwww.tkoboxoffice.com or from Marianne’s websitewww.mariannemarston.com
Gumliiska Out – Horakova To Challenge Marston For WBU European Featherweight Title This Saturday
Mr. Vencislav Nikolov, General Secretary of the Professional Boxing League of Bulgaria, recently informed the WBU Europe office, in London, UK, that they are unable to provide permission for Galina Gumliiska to box England’s Marianne Marston for the World Boxing Union European Super Bantamweight Championship in London this coming weekend, due to a medical issue.
Following attempts to find a suitable replacement at Super Bantamweight, Promoter Mr David Murphy successfully applied for a change of division, as such Ms. Marston will now be boxing Czech Republic’s #1 ranked Hana Horakova for the World Boxing Union European Featherweight Championship, at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London this coming Saturday.
Speaking from the WBU head office in Atlanta, Georgia, World Boxing Union President Mr Don Lewis said.
“It is unfortunate that Galina has been forced to withdraw, however based on the information supplied by Mr. Nikolov it is clear it would have been irresponsible to have allowed the fight to go ahead.
As Hana is unable to make the Super Bantamweight Championship weight limit, we have authorised the revised bout to be for the Featherweight championship.
I have been informed that Marianne is already within the Super Bantamweight weight limits, but is willing to compete at Featherweight, even though this will give a major weight advantage to Hana.
I am pleased that all involved have worked together to ensure that this historic bout goes ahead on Saturday.
I know both fighters, they are both true warriors that always give a hundred and ten percent, it will be a very exciting all action affair..”
Marianne Marston versus Hana Horakova, for the WBU European Featherweight title, co-headlines the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events WARZONE Event, which takes place at York Hall in Bethnal Green in London on Saturday, 1st March 2014.
Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) & £60 (Ringside) are available the Acourtier Events ticket line on 07960 850645 or on-line at www.acourtier.com
Please go online to www.wbuboxing.orgor www.wbueurope.eu for additional information on upcoming WBU and WBU Europe sanctioned title fights.
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