By Pj De Best - Boxing Republic - 16th March 2009



(PJ) Hey there Marianne, before we begin this interview I would like to congratulate you on the re-signing of your UK sponsor; PUG Athletic ( www.pugathletic.com ). It must be a great relief to get the support like that from an established company?

(MARSTON) I'm very pleased to be working with PUG again, I love their equipment - their sparring and training gloves provide the best hand protection of any make I've used - and I'm proud to be asked to represent them. Originally my sponsorship was UK events only, but now that they are looking to expand into America they have decided to extend my deal for there too.

(PJ) I've read that you're quite an athlete and have competed in both the sport of fencing and swimming in the past. You're also an extremely educated University graduate; tell me how did a woman like you get involved in the sport of boxing?

(MARSTON) I've always had an interest in Boxing I had followed some fighters such as Herbie Hide and Frank Bruno from a young age - When I was about 7 years old I wanted to join Norwich Lads Club to learn to box, but they didn't let girls join so my mother got me to do gymnastics instead. - I finally got the chance to box due to my recovering from a serious illness. I went to my local LA Fitness centre to get my strength back and noticed Choleton Senior, one of the personal trainers, offered basic boxing for fitness, I signed up and within a short while Choleton was encouraging me to join a proper boxing gym as he felt I was a natural talent. His father was a British Boxing Champion, and Choleton himself was a boxer until he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident. I joined Gleasons London Gym near Tower Bridge. That's where I got spotted by John Rooney from PUG Athletic.

(PJ) You're born in England but currently residing in America to advance your boxing career. Do you see a difference in competition over here compared to the UK?

(MARSTON) Female boxing in the amateur ranks is really strong in England but the pro-ranks are not yet strong enough to support a single national championship. America on the other hand is very strong on numbers for both amateur and pro. To give you an idea of how different it is, if I was to fight next month there would be a choice of around 20-30 possible opponents with similar experience. If that was England I would be very lucky if there was one, most probably I would have to fight someone with far more experience than myself or from Europe.

(PJ) Rumor has it that legendary former heavyweight champion 'Smokin' Joe Frazier really believes in your ability as a fighter and has publicly given you his endorsement in the past. How does that feel for you knowing you got the approval of such a great fighter like that?

(MARSTON) Joe was a great fighter and is a great man, and it is a HUGE honour for him to even pay any attention to me at all, let alone express the level of faith that he has in my ability.

The amount of time and advice that Joe gave me was amazing. He really gave me belief in myself. I have fond memories of Joe coming into the gym and spending so much time helping with technique.

(PJ) How did you end up meeting 'Smokin Joe'?

(MARSTON) I was in a busy coffee shop opposite the hotel I stayed at in Philadelphia. I was alone at a table, Joe and Chandler "Smokin' Bull" Durham came in and the only free seats were at my table. They asked if they could sit at my table and of course I said yes. Chandler introduced himself and Joe - I was so nervous when he said Joe's name - I introduced myself and said that I box and had made an appointment to go to Joe Hand's gym and asked them if they thought it was a good gym. Joe said it was, but why don't I come to his gym and try out. I didn't even know he had a gym, let alone that it was just a few miles away.

It was the most awesome experience walking into Smokin' Joe Frazier's gym for the first time. The walls were full of Joe's past accomplishments. photos, Championship Gloves, posters and the original ring. I was so nervous. Joe wasn't actually there when I arrived but his son Marvis was. He made me feel at ease in a moment. He is such a nice guy.

Joe came in later whilst Marvis was giving me a workout. I didn't actually notice he was watching until he shouted out to pull my hand back faster. It turns out he watched most of the session and felt that was the only thing I wasn't doing correctly. Oh and that he didn't think I should be wearing a cropped sports top!

(PJ) Did 'Smokin' Joe give you any tips or words of advice to carry with you to the ring?

(MARSTON) Many - but the main thing, as I said before, is the belief in myself and my ability he gave me.

(PJ) You've trained at a number of gyms in both the UK and the USA, are you now settled into one gym with one trainer?

(MARSTON) I have, but that was all due to my work, I would be in different cities in America for long periods of time so trained at the best gyms and trainers I could find where ever I was at the time. Freddie Roach in LA, Francisco Mendez in New York for example.

Since going full time I'd planned that it would be Smokin' Joe Frazier's in Philly, but since they closed a year ago I had to move and now my home gym is the James Shuler Memorial Gym in West Philadelphia.

I had to go through a couple of trainers since Frazier's closed to find who really was right for me. I loved working with Robert 'Bam Bam' Hines but I couldn't get past his accent so we were both getting frustrated with each other as I wasn't able to understand him.

The team I have around me now is perfect. Firstly my day to day training is with Shar'ron Baker with input from the amazing Naazim Richardson and Steve 'USS' Cunningham and my intensive camp work is with Steve's coach, Chase (Anthony Chase). Oh, I had better explain I am officially a member of Team 'USS' Cunningham. You can't begin to imagine how good that makes me feel having an awesome fighter like Steve and the top trainers in the business working with me.

(PJ) How is your training coming along right now? Are you sparring regularly?

(MARSTON) I'm ready to fight, I haven't ever been in the condition I am now. I have to say that the training and advice I have been getting is the best in the world. Chase, Shar'ron, Naazim and Steve have got me being an all round fighter. I used to be best on the inside. Now I am a total fighter. They have made me into a mini-Steve. The good thing for me in this is that I can now work the ring and come in with my natural strengths and finish the job off.

I haven't sparred for about a month as I was in Hawaii for a break and am currently back over in London to get my visa sorted out so I can fight in America. But prior to that I have been blessed with some great sparring. I regularly spar with super bantamweight Christina Leadbeater and junior welterweight Faatimah Balmer. Both have very different styles which is so useful. Zahir Justice from the Fast Lane Gym bought a great junior middleweight in to spar with me. That was real hard work, but I held my own even though I was experimenting at the time with the new 'USS' Cunningham style. I also spar with my former Frazier gym mates Super Middleweight Dee 'Tiger' Moses and lightweight Jayson Sia who also now train at Shulers.

(PJ) Any fights on the horizon?

(MARSTON) I have been approached to fight in April and May by a local promoter in Philadelphia and also asked to fight at a London event in May. Once my visa is sorted I'll let my manager decide which I take.

I've waited so long to actually get into the ring only for each fight to be canceled for one reason or another that I'll be happy to do all three as long as there is no clash of dates.

(PJ) You're currently 35 years old and your dream is to become the women's featherweight champion; have you set a time frame for yourself to achieve this goal or are you taking it one fight at a time and seeing how it all ends up?

(MARSTON) Due to the intensive training and conditioning I get as part of Team 'USS' Cunningham my day to day weight has dropped to 116lbs so it looks like I'll have to change division and compete at either bantamweight or super bantamweight.

I had set myself a time frame a couple of years ago, and found that everything possible that could go wrong or slow me down did. Now I'm just taking it one step at a time, without ever losing sight of where I'm heading. I know I'm going to get there.

(PJ) Have you got any other interests or career focuses outside of boxing?

(MARSTON) I'm studying sports science at the moment - I feel it is as much for personal benefit as it is an ultimate career goal. I suffer from celiac disease and a sensitivity to casein (one of the proteins found in milk) both of which mean I have quite a restrictive diet, so I am particularly interested in nutrition for athletes with dietary sensitivities or allergies.

(PJ) You've got a lot of supporters already and word is your website http://mariannemarston.com has a huge mailing list just dying to know what you're up to. Are there any upcoming media events where they can catch up with you?

(MARSTON) When I get back to America there will be a few lined up as I should be fighting regularly. Also as Steve is due to face Wayne 'Big Truck' Braithwaite in an IBF eliminator I will be attending various events as part of the team.

(PJ) Would you like to convey a message to all of your fans and friends out there?

(MARSTON) I'd just like to let everyone know how much I appreciate their support - I get a lot of messages on myspace and supportive emails to my website - its really nice (and quite surprising) to know how many folks are out there have taken notice of me and support me.

Though I love London ( and Gleasons) and it's been great to catch up with people here, I'm missing my mates at Schulers - so I'd like to say hello and love ya loads to everyone there too especially 'Tyson', Shar'ron, Robert 'Bam Bam' Hines, Jayson, Dee, Q, Brother Naazim, Christina, Rock, Dynamite, Gee Culmer, Yusaf Mack, 'Fast' Eddie, the four Willies and can't forget the man that makes it all happen, the big boss himself, Percy 'Buster' Custus. I'd also like to send a special message to the Cunningham family - Steve, Livvy, Little Steve and Kennedy - thanks for everything miss ya loads and see you soon. And finally I'd like to say good luck with your upcoming fight to 'Fast' Eddie Chambers (-;.

(PJ) On behalf of BoxingRepublic.com I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions Marianne. We'd love to have you on again sometime soon and look forward to seeing you achieve your goals in the prize fighting world. Take care!

(MARSTON) Thank you very much!

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