Ringnews24.com: You have a fight coming up against Hana Horakova. How did that fight come about and which other boxers were you looking at?
Hana is actually a replacement; I was originally to fight Galina Gumliiska, but she failed the pre-fight medical.
After that we looked a Marianna Gulyas as she was ranked equally to Galina, but she lost her last couple of fights and the WBU insist that you must be coming off a win.
This is really disappointing because if it were Galina, I would jump from 54 to the high 20s in the rankings, the same if it were Marianna, but Hana is only a couple of places above me so will only jump a few places up the rankings.
[Note: the fight has been changed from super-bantamweight to featherweight as Hana can’t get down to the weight in time.]
Ringnews24.com: Who is your current trainer and were do you train?
Brian O’Shaughnessy and I train at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, London.
Brian really is a great coach; he’s added to the excellent skills that my previous trainers in America – Joe and Marvis Frazier, Shar’ron Baker and Steve Cunningham – and back here Barry Smith – brought to my game.
He’s made me into a fully rounded fighter; I’ve always been a pressure fighter, Steve Cunningham started to get me working on the outside when I was in America, but Brian has really bought that ability to me. He’s also bought superior defensive aspects to my game.
Ringnews24.com: Could you tell us a little about your training camp?
It’s over now – just ticking over until fight night – but Brian has had me on a serious camp; three-and-a-half hours every day, a lot of technical stuff, serious conditioning and world-class sparring.
Even my runs are more serious; plenty of hill sprints this time as well.
Ringnews24.com: How would you compare it to previous training camps?
I’ve had a fantastic camp, it really couldn’t be any better. It’s been more intense but I’ve loved every minute of it – I prefer to be pushed to my limits
Ringnews24.com: Who have you been sparring in preparation for Horakova?
I’ve been sparring British and European Bantamweight Champion Ian “Dappa” Napa, two-time ABA and five-time English National Champion Sunny Edwards as well as gym mates Sam Cantwell and Joe Stevens.
You just can’t get better sparring than that, it really has been first-class.
Ringnews24.com: Have you seen much footage of Horakova and what do you think of her as a fighter?
Yes, I watched her title fight against Natalia Smirnova. She’s a good, tough fighter, and she’s a big puncher so I need to be right on my game. I will be, though – I want this so much.
Ringnews24.com: Do you have a prediction for how the fight will end?
My last fights have been first-round stoppages; I don’t think this will be. I would like to get Hana out of there early but to be honest she’s never been stopped so I think it will be a full-on eight-round war with me winning on points.
Ringnews24.com: You are fighting on March 1st at York Hall in London; have you visited the venue before?
Indeed; I’ve been there to watch TKO fighters in the past, and it’s where both my fights took place.
Ringnews24.com Who is going to be in your corner on the night and what do they bring to Team Marston?
My promoter Dave Murphy, and TRAD TKO coach Antonio; as I am fighting on a Malta Boxing Commission license Brian isn’t allowed to be in my corner according to the BBBofC.
But Dave knows my strengths – he’ll keep me in check and make sure I stick to Brian’s game plan. Antonio, who will be my cuts man, is used to wars; he’s from Mexico so will be ready for anything.
Ringnews24.com: How can fans watch the fight? Is it on TV?
Afraid not – if they want to watch it they will need to be there. I do have tickets still so contact me or call Rio on 07960850645 or buy online at www.mariannemarston.com
Ringnews24.com: After your victory, are there any fighters that you would like to call out?
I’m not really into calling people out. I want to fight the best so it has to be the top girls like Karine Rinaldo; she’s unbeaten in nine and currently number one in Europe and 15 in the world.
Then after that I would like to start targeting the top three in the world; Argentineans Marcela Eliana Acuna and Yesica Patricia Marcos, and America’s Alicia Ashley – they are the top girls at the moment.
Ringnews24.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
I can’t thank my wonderful fans enough so would love to say to them that I promise them I will give my all and will be the WBU European Champion on Saturday.
I’d also like to say a big thank you to my fantastic sponsors BoxFit, Optimax, JT Clarke London and of course the TRAD TKO Gym
Ringnews24.com: Thanks for talking to Ringnews24, we wish you all the best on the night.
Thank you, it’s been a pleasure
