LONDON - One of boxing’s most exciting pound-for-pound fighters Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin will defend his middleweight titles live and exclusive on BoxNation when he takes on Willie Monroe Jr on May 16th.
The Kazakh superstar has struck fear throughout the middleweight division by dismantling all 32 of his opponents - 29 of those by way of brutal stoppage – with the explosive puncher out for more of the same when he takes on his skilled American challenger.
The 12-round bout taking place at The Forum in Inglewood, California will see Golovkin’s WBA Super belt and IBO title up for grabs as he makes his first return to the ring following his win over Britain’s brave Martin Murray in February.
The addition of the May 16th clash adds yet another string in the bow to a mighty BoxNation schedule over the coming weeks.
Boxing fans can enjoy a host of back-to-back world class fights for just £12 a month starting on April 11th when Andy Lee makes the first defence of his WBO middleweight crown against Peter Quillin, with light-welterweight aces Danny Garcia and Lamont Peterson on the card.
That’s followed a week later on April 18th with a truly monster night of live action for BoxNation subscribers when lightweight Derry Matthews takes his first stab at a world title against slick WBA champion Richard Abril at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
BoxNation will then go Stateside with two fantastic fight cards starting with a bout that promises to be an all-out war with Argentine banger Lucas Matthysse taking on the formidable Ruslan Provodnikov at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York.
Hot on the heels of that, on the same night, will see rising pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford back in action in Arlington, Texas as he looks to become a two-weight world champion against Puerto Rican sensation Thomas Dulorme.
That’s not all, with BoxNation bringing British fans even more mouth-watering live fights with heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko back on US soil when he defends his world titles against the undefeated and highly-rated Bryant Jennings on April 25th in New York.
It gets even better for BoxNation subscribers when Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez and knockout artist James Kirkland share the ring in front of 40,000 fans at the Minute Maid Park in Houston Texas on May 12th in a ‘Fight of the Year’ contender.
That is followed in quick succession by fan-favourite Golovkin who will be out to provide more fireworks as he continues lighting up the 160-pound division.
“I’m very excited to fight again in Los Angeles where I now live” said Golovkin. “Monroe is a skilled southpaw and I look forward to the test he will provide. I promise my fans another ‘Big Drama Show.”
Top-rated challenger Monroe Jr is adamant 32-year-old Golovkin will not have it all his own way as he looks to spring a surprise.
“It’s going to be one of those fights; speed vs. power, slickness vs. aggressiveness and the bull vs. the matador. I am ready. I’ve been in training already for three weeks before we even got this fight. We will be more than ready on May 16,” said Monroe Jr.
Jim McMunn, Managing Director of BoxNation, said: “Gennady Golovkin is among the most exciting and thrilling fighters around so we are delighted to be able to bring BoxNation subscribers his next fight against a tricky opponent in Willie Monroe Jr live and exclusive. This fight joins a fantastic lineup on BoxNation over the coming weeks, with a number of world class fights that at only £12 a month represents truly remarkable value for money.”
Dave Ryan will defend his Commonwealth Light Welterweight title against John Wayne Hibbert on the huge May 30 bill at The O2 in London.
The show already boasts two World title clashes plus a huge fight for Heavyweight favourite Anthony Joshua MBE, and fight fans will be licking their lips as the in-form Ryan and Hibbert clash in a rematch.
Derby’s Ryan landed the Commonwealth crown by taking talented Tyrone Nurse’s unbeaten record in Leeds in October, a result that followed his win over former World title challenger Paul McCloskey. Hibbert’s confidence is sky high after two great wins at The O2, landing the WBC International title in October with a fifth round stoppage of Leonardo Gonzalez and then defending it in style in January by stopping Tyler Goodjohn in eight rounds.
It’s also a revenge mission for Hibbert as the pair met in March 2013 in Essex, with Ryan edging that English title eliminator by just two points on the referee’s scorecard – a decision that Hibbert believes should have gone his way.
Mitchell challenges Jorge Linares for the WBC Lightweight title and Selby is looking to rip the IBF World Featherweight title from Evgeny Gradovich as Joshua meets former World Heavyweight title challenger Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson on a bumper night for fight fans.
“I'm really looking forward to seeing this rematch,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Both fighters have come a long way since the first fight and get the opportunity to do it again in front of a packed crowd at The O2. John has a huge fan base so I think most of Essex will be there on the night. It's going to be a wonderful atmosphere and it’s a true 50-50 scrap for the title.”
Tickets are now on general sale for the bumper night of boxing at The O2 with tickets priced £40, £60, £80, £100 and £200 available from www.theO2.co.uk and on 0844 856 0202. The £400 VIP packages are exclusively available through www.matchroomboxing.com
Marston: I’m Aiming For A Big Win On May 2nd – Tell O’Connell I’m Coming For Her Title Next
British #1 and reigning MBC International Super Bantamweight Champion Marianne Marston is set to return to the York Hall in London’s East End, the scene of her sensational Championship securing victory over Marianne Gulyas late last year, in a few weeks time, where she will face a yet to be named opponent on the Mark Lyons & Billy Elliott promoted LORDS OF THE RING event on Saturday 2nd May 2015
Back in October Marston utterly dominated proceedings against the then Hungarian #1, European #3 and World #31 ranked Gulyas to secure the vacant MBC International Super Bantamweight title.
From start to finish it was the slick British southpaw that took the fight to her much vastly more experienced opponent, aggressively going forward, utilizing her sharp jabs and stinging lefts to great effect.
Throughout Marston appeared to be able to pick off her opponent at will, in doing so left Gulyas no option but to defend on the retreat.
During the bout, which was fought at a frenetic pace, Gulyas visited the canvas no less than seven times, however only two of these were counted as knockdowns by referee Alf Sprung, who waved the others off as slips or pushes
After ten scintillating rounds of boxing, Judges Ben Doughty (UK) and Matt Hamilton (South Africa) scored the bout 100-89 whilst judge Lee Murtagh (UK) scorecard read 99-88 all in favour of Marston.
The superb shut out victory rocketed Marston up the rankings, as well as earned her a World title shot, against reigning WIBA Champion, Australia’s Shannon O’Connell, which will take place later this summer.
However it is the upcoming bout that Marston is currently focusing on, as she made clear when she spoke earlier.
“I’m really looking forward to fighting again, especially back at York Hall.
It’s close to six months since I won the title, I have to admit I hoped to be out much earlier this year, but for one reason or another that just didn’t happen.
If I had I would have either defended the MBC title or fought for the WBU European title again, but with the World title fight coming up this summer it was decided that rather than having all the pressure that comes with a title fight, we would find an opponent with a similar style to Shannon (current WIBA World Champion Shannon O’Connell) to fight on May 2nd so we could use this as a seriously testing dry run as such.
I know I won every single round against Marianna (Gulyas) but her style is very different to Shannon’s, luckily though my main sparring partner is Ian Napa, Ian is so experienced and can box in any style, which is great as we know can prepare properly for both Shannon and my May 2nd opponent.
Ian’s brilliant, having someone that’s been there, done that and has the t-shirt to prove it, I honestly believe it’s his input to my preparations that makes all the difference, I mean he’s won both the British and European titles twice as well as fought for numerous titles, so really knows what is needed.
It also helps that I have a great experienced team around me, my coach Brian O’Shaughnessy really has bought me on, now instead of being more or less one dimensional in my approach I’m now fully rounded and can box in any style, even on the back foot, which is something I always found hard to do.
Mind you when you’re sparring people like Ian (Napa), Sunny (Edwards) and Ian Bailey all the time, you need to be able to adapt, so some of the praise has to go to them also.
I’ve really enjoyed being the MBC International Champion, winning the title has affected me in such a positive way, can’t explain it, but it’s like I’m a different fighter now, maybe that’s just the confidence of knowing I can go ten rounds with a World ranked fighter and not just hold my own, but beat them.
Now I’ve got to use this to my advantage, first I have to beat whoever it is I’ll be fighting on May 2nd and then of course Shannon when I challenge for her title.
I know I said this before, but when my career comes to an end, I want to be remembered as a boxer that had good skills, a proper Champion, not someone that just coasted through their career.
I want real fights, meaningful fights, believe me I’m not looking at May 2nd being a warm up or anything like that, I want to make a huge statement on May 2nd, I want Shannon to worry about the Marianne that will face her this summer, I want her to know I’m coming to take her title from her.”
Marianne Marston, against a yet to be announced opponent, features on the Mark Lyons & Billy James-Elliott Wise Guys Promotions LORDS OF THE RING event, that takes place at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London on Saturday 2nd May 2015.
Sanctioning for this event will be provided courtesy of the Malta Boxing Commission (MBC) – www.maltaboxingcommission.com
Tickets priced £35 (Standard seating) and £65 (Ringside) are available direct from Marianne or any of the boxers taking part, from the Ringtone Gym in Euston, London, on-line at www.mariannemarston.com and www.tkoboxoffice.com or call 07960 850645