Five Go Mad At York Hall – Sensational Victories For TRAD TKO Fighters Last Saturday

TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town has always had a reputation for coaching some of the most exciting prospects in the UK, last Saturday at York Hall in Bethnal Green, five of their young stars were in action, each not just winning but winning in style – TRAD TKO style.

Winning is in the blood of any of boxer trained at the famous East End fight factory, but on Saturday the TRAD TKO crew took it to another level and added yet another Champion to their ever growing list of Merit.

TRAD TKO’s very own ‘Golden Girl’ Marianne Marston headlined the event, when she challenged Hungarian #1, European #3 and World #31 ranked Marianna Gulyas for the MBC International Super Bantamweight Championship.

Marianne, who is trained by Brian O’Shaughnessy, pulled out one of the performances of the year, completely out boxing her more experienced opponent from start to finish, as well as sending Gulyas to the canvas seven times, although the referee only counted two as actual knockdowns.

Judges Ben Doughty and Matt Hamilton scored the bout 100-89 and Judge Lee Murtagh 99-88 all in favour of Marianne.

This excellent victory shot Marston up the rankings to UK #1, European #3, World #24 as well as #1 British Pound for Pound Female, all of which puts her nicely in line for a shot at a World title in 2015.

In fact Marianne had already come to the attention of the WIBA World Champion, Australia’s Shannon O’Connell, whose team recently made a tentative approach for Marianne to challenge for the coveted crown, so it could be sooner rather than later that the ‘Golden Girl’ heads to the World stage.

Former England amateur captain, Antonio Counihan, who is trained by his father Paul, made his first step towards Championship honors, when he competed in his first six rounder, against Lithuania’s Janos Vass.

A classy, stylish boxer young Antonio really shined on Saturday, easily controlling his more experienced opponent with stiff jabs and sensationally quick double handed flurries.

In the third round Antonio’s skills and power proved to be too much for Vass, as his corner threw in the towel on the one minute and fifty seconds mark to save their man from further punishment.

Fight of the Night though has to go to another of the gym’s young stars, former Commonwealth Lightweight Champion Mo Hussein coached Siar Ozgul, who had a Battle Royale with Nottingham’s Matt Scriven.

What a fight, it was all action back and forth with some great toe to toe action thrown in for good measure.

After four scintillating rounds referee Lee Murtagh scored it 39-37 in favour of TRAD TKO’s Siar, the correct verdict but that doesn’t really express just how great the fight was or how close each round was.

Siar’s older sibling Onder Ozgul, who is also coached by Mo Hussein, was also involved in an all action thriller, when he took on late replacement Remigijus Ziausys in a four rounder.

It was a cracking fight that had the crowd on it’s feet for virtually the entire four rounds, it was that exciting, a great closely fought bout that see Onder emerge victorious by a shut out 40-36 points margin, however as with his brother’s bout the scoring doesn’t show the whole picture, this was another seriously close fought bout, many of the rounds could have gone either way, it was that good.

The final TRAD TKO youngster on the card, Brian O’Shaughnessy coached Cruiserweight Jerome Haywood, made his professional debut, against the highly experienced Rolandas Cesna.

Jerome started slowly but once the nerves subsided put in a fantastic performance, scoring his maiden victory by a 40-38 points margin.

TRAD TKO head honcho Johnny Eames sounded more like a proud father when he spoke earlier about his fighters successes.

“We’re so proud of every single one of them, they proved they can battle it out when they need to, each and everyone of them done us proud.

Well, when I first met her I may not have a been a fan of Women boxing but Marianne soon changed that.

She put in a magnificent performance on Saturday and we’re all so proud of her, she deserved this, she’s always in the gym and always up for a fight.

It didn’t take her long to become the flag bearer for female boxers, not just at the gym but in the UK full stop.

What can I say about Antonio, this kid is a super star in waiting, we really need to be moving him on to bigger and better things.

On Saturday he proved beyond any doubt he’s ready to start eyeing up title fight opportunities next year.

The fighting brothers, Onder and Siar have proved to me they too are ready to step up to six rounders, they both fought magnificentlyon Saturday, they really proved they can hold their own with the toughest of fighters.

Our newest pro, Jerome Haywood, made a fantastic start to his career. Cesna was a late replacement and a lot heavier than Jerome, but he showed he can handle whatever is thrown at him, great start, we’re all really pleased for him.

We have a great team and a great squad here at the TRAD TKO, it really is exciting times for us.”

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Six Of The Best – Half Dozen TRAD TKO Boxers In Action At York Hall This Saturday

With over forty pro boxers training at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, it should come as no surprise that some weekends there would be a number of their young stars in action, however this weekend it’s not the normal two or three, it’s six, what’s more they’re all fighting on the same event at York Hall on Saturday night.

The first TRAD TKO fighter to be in action on Saturday will be Hainult Cruiserweight Jerome Haywood, who will be making his professional debut against late replacement, Lithuania’s Rolandas Cesna.

Brian O’Shaughnessy trained Haywood will have some extra help in his corner, no less than former British and European Cruiserweight Champion Terry Dunstan, who has been on hand to advise, as well as spar, throughout the Essex Boy’s fight preparations.

Barry Smith trained Manny Muhammad will be looking to make it three wins out of three outings on Saturday.

Back in March, Harrow based Muhammad scored a superb points victory, over previously unbeaten Vaidas Balciauskas, this win shot him up into the top half of the World rankings – after just the one fight!

In August Muhammad increased his ranking positon with another excellent points victory, over Ernestas Dapkus.

Former Commonwealth Champion Mo Hussein has a growing stable of fighters under his control at the TRAD TKO, two of whom, brothers Onder and Siar Ozgul, will be in action at York Hall this Saturday.

Onder, who has been dubbed ‘Little Mike’ by Turkish boxing fans - due to his fighting style being similar to that of Iron Mike Tyson - will be making his third pro outing on Saturday.

On his debut Onder scored a shut out points victory over Dmitrij Kalinovskij, he followed this up a month later with a first round stoppage of Brighton’s Iain Jackson.

On Saturday Onder was due to face Matthew Pepper, but unfortunately Pepper had to pull out - due his father being hospitalized with a serious illness - so unbeaten Karel Horejsek stepped in at late notice.

Younger sibling Siar, who is currently 4-0 after top class points victories over Michal Vosyka, Chris Jenkinson, Tomas Samusas and William Wharburton - has also built up a strong following due to his all action boxing style.

On Saturday night young Siar will face Nottingham’s Matt Scriven.

The highly rated, former Team England Amateur Captain, Antonion Counihan steps up to his first six rounder, against seriously tough Lithuanian Simas Volosinas.

Antonio, who is trained by his father Paul, scored three sensational wins - over Robin Deakin, Marcin Ficner and Tibor Szucs - since turning pro just one year ago, two of these wins came by way of stoppage, Deakin and Szucs, the other by a shut out points decision.

Headlining the CAPITAL PUNISHMENT event is another TRAD TKO star – British #1 Ranked (both Super Bantamweight & Pound-4-Pound) female boxer - Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston.

Marston, who is trained by Brian O’Shaughnessy, will be challenging Hungarian #1, European #3 and World #31 ranked Marianna Gulyas for the MBC International Super Bantamweight Championship.

Marston may have a little extra pressure going into this title showdown, as news has just filtered through that should she win on Saturday that she will get to challenge for the WIBA World Super Bantamweight Championship, against current Champion Australia’s Shannon O’Connell, early in 2015.

TRAD TKO head honcho Johnny Eames was clearly pleased to have so many of his charges in action this Saturday, as he said.

“It’s good to have so many of the boys, and girl, out this weekend.

It just goes to show the depth of talent we have here at the TRAD TKO, on Saturday we’ll have one fighter, Jerome, debuting, Manny and Onder making their third pro outings, Siar in his final four rounder, this kid is more than ready to step up now, of course one of the boys is already stepping up, Antonio does his first six rounderon Saturday and to top it all our Marianne will be headlining the event and fighting for a title.

Should be a great night of boxing, hopefully all our boys will keep their unbeaten records and Marianne will bring the belt home to the gym.”

Tickets, priced £35 (Standard Seated) and £60 (Ringside) for the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoted CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, at York Hall in Bethnal Green on Saturday 25^th October, are available direct from any of the boxers, at the TRAD TKO Gym, on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or call 07960 850645.

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The Midas Touch – Trio Of TRAD TKO Stars In Championship Action

The TRAD TKO Gym in Canning Town, deep in the heart of London’s East End, is always a hive of activity, no surprise having over forty pro boxers based there, but this month it’s buzzing even more than usual, due to three of the stars that train there being in Championship action in the coming weeks.

The first to step into the hallowed square ring in search of another Championship accolade is St Neots, Cambs exciting twenty year old Light Welterweight Tommy ‘Da Gun’ Martin, who is set to take his first steps towards a major domestic title, when he faces Southampton’s Matty Tew in a BBBofC English title eliminator at the O2 Arena on Saturday 11^th October.

Tommy, whose record stands at nine fights, nine wins, already holds a minor title - The British Masters Bronze at Welterweight, was recently signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport.

Young Tommy made such an impact in his first fight under the Matchroom banner that the savvy Eddie Hearn has decided to move him into Championship contention immediately.

Just two weeks later, on the 25^th October at York Hall in Bethnal Green, TRAD TKO’s very own ‘Golden Girl’, Super Bantamweight Marianne Marston, is back in Championship action once more.

Back in March Marianne was rather unlucky not to secure the WBU European Featherweight crown, losing out to Hungary’s #1 ranked Featherweight Hana Horacova by a close split points decision.

On October 25^th Marianne, who is ranked #1 in the UK, #8 in Europe and #58 in the World, is once again set to challenge another tough opponent from Hungary, this time Hungarian #1, European #3 and World #31 ranked Super Bantamweight Marianna Gulyas, for the MBC International crown.

Joining Marianne on the Dave Murphy Acourtier Events promoter CAPITAL PUNISHMENT event are a number of TRAD TKO rising stars, including the sensational Antonio Counihan, the exciting ‘Fighting Turks’ Siar and Onder Ozgul, big punching Matar Sambou, former American Basketball star Manny Muhammad and last but not least, making his pro debut Jerome Haywood.

Just over a month later comes one of the most anticipated Domestic battles of the year, when Hatfield superstar Billy Joe Saunders puts at least two of his many titles on the line, when he faces Chris Eubank Jr. on the Frank Warren promoted BAD BLOOD event at the Excel Arena on Saturday 29^th November.

Ranked #2 in the UK, #5 in Europe and #14 in the World and with the British, Commonwealth, European and WBO International Middleweight Championship belts nestling in his trophy cabinet, most pundits expected Billy Joe to be focusing on a World title shot, rather than defend at least two of his current accolades against a domestic opponent.

With that said, this is a fight that had to happen and as with Chisora-Haye it will happen and the true British King of the division will be crowned.

TRAD TKO head honcho, Johnny Eames said of the three upcoming title fights,

“It’s exciting times for everyone involved with the TRAD TKO Gym, it’s fights like these that we spend the hours in the gym for, every fighter wants to fight at least once for a title.

Starting with young Tommy Martin he’s been with us since he was eighteen, he always wants to be in the gym, he loves being in the gym, If he had his way he’d live and die in the gym.

That dedication has really paid of for him, we had both Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren want to sign him, he chose Eddie and now he has an English title eliminator.

Barry Smith has done a great job since taking over as Tommy’s coach, Tommy’s come on in leaps and bounds, he’s still only a youngster, but is maturing fight by fight, a victory on Saturday will be the icing on the cake.

I’d never been much of a fan of Women’s boxing, but that started to change not long after Marianne joined us a few years ago, now we have a growing Women’s squad.

Like Tommy, Marianne’s another one that is always in the gym, she’s there more than I am.

Brian O’Shaughnessy is doing a fantastic job with her, she’s fitter and stronger than ever, as proved in sparring recently.

She was very unlucky to lose back in March, I think it will be very different this time around, she’s shook off the injury now so we expect it to be a very different outcome on October 25^th.

What can I say about Billy Joe, in my opinion he’s already one of the best boxers, if not the best, in the country, a genuine World class fighter.

I’m sure it wont be long before Jimmy and Mark (Tibbs) are preparing Billy Joe for a World title fight, but right now the focus is on Chris Eubank Jr.

It’s going to be a great fight, definitely one for the fans, I’m looking forward to it and Billy Joe bringing the belts back to the TRAD TKO again.

It really is exciting times here, besides these three Championship fights, in the coming weeks we should be announcing further title shots for some of our fighters, at least for Freddie Turner and Joel McIntyre, hopefully also for Ian Bailey and Andy Gatenby.

Finally I’d like to say a big thank you to Baz Rehman, who’s always been a big supporter of TRAD TKO and it’s fighters, for getting behind Marianne and sponsoring her title fight.”

Tickets for Tommy ‘Da Gun’ Martin versus Matty Tew English Light Welterweight Title Eliminator, at the O2 Arena on Saturday 11^thOctober 2014, Marianne ‘Golden Girl’ Marston versus Marianna Gulyas MBC International Super Bantamweight Championship, at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Saturday 25^th October 2014 and Billy Joe Saunders versus Chris Eubank Jr. for the Commonwealth and European Middleweight Championships at the Excel Arena on Saturday 29^th November are available direct from the TRAD TKO Gym, on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or call the Box Office on 07960 850645.

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