Philippines, 05 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Fil-Brit out for boxing gold


PhilBoxing.com



John Marvin.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson said yesterday Fil-Brit boxer John Marvin, a late discovery from out of the blue, might just pull a surprise to win the gold medal in the lightheavyweight division at the coming SEA Games in Malaysia.

Picson said he received a blind e-mail from Marvin last May inquiring about fighting for the Philippines. ?It came out of nowhere,? said Picson. ?John wanted to fly over since he has a Philippine passport. He sent us videos of his fights. We had nothing to lose. I told him to pay his way to Manila and if he makes the team, we?ll reimburse his expenses. But John couldn?t raise the money so (ABAP president) Mr. (Ricky) Vargas decided to advance it.?

Picson said ABAP?s gamble paid off. ?John?s easy to get along with,? he said. ?He likes Filipino food, he doesn?t mind bunking with four or five guys in a room, he just wants an opportunity to box for the country. We considered one of our veterans Willie Lopez for the lightheavyweight slot but when they sparred, John got the better of him. He held his own and took Willie?s best shots. The coaching staff decided to go with John. He went with the team for training in China and he?s now getting a monthly allowance of P11,000 from the PSC as a member of the national pool.?

Marvin, 24, is a British lance corporal with the 1st battalion of the Princess of Wales regiment based in Germany. His father John, Sr. is a retired professional singer, former cruise director and now a yacht master. His Filipina mother is Teresita Tupas from Pampanga. His younger brother Jonathan, 22, is with the merchant navy. As a boy, Marvin used to make regular visits to the Philippines with his family. But before this trip, he hadn?t been back in 11 years. Marvin said he expects his parents to be at ringside in K.L.

Marvin learned how to box when he was seven and joined the Ventnor Club under coach Darren Green at the Isle of Wight. When he joined the Army, Marvin signed up for the boxing team and it led to winning the middleweight and cruiserweight titles in combined military services tournaments. He?s been with the British Army boxing team for five years.

?Last year, I was invited to participate in a Filipino-British boxing competition in England but I couldn?t join,? he said. ?That opened my eyes to the possibility of fighting for the Philippines. So I sent an e-mail to ABAP asking how to go about it. Now that I?m with the national team, my goal is to make the best of this chance. I don?t know what the future will bring. Life is full of surprises. But I?m definitely going for gold in the SEA Games. I?m aspiring to fight at the Asian Games and the Olympics.?

Marvin said the fighter he most admires is Muhammad Ali. ?I?m inspired by him, he?s my motivation to fight,? he said. ?Do I try to fight like Ali? No. I don?t try to fight like anyone. I?ve developed my own style. I?d rather not describe how I fight. I don?t want to give bullets to the enemy. Let?s just wait for the bell to ring at the SEA Games.?


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Unforgettable Moments with the Champions
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • IT’S A “HOMECOMING” FOR FIVE-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER MARICELA CORNEJO FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 AT LEGENDS CASINO
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • HERNANDEZ STOPS GARNETT IN TENTH ROUND IN MAIN EVENT OF CHRISTY MARTIN PROMOTIONS’ “MAYHEM IN MUSIC CITY 2”
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • YOELVIS GOMEZ READY TO SHINE IN RETURN BOUT AGAINST EDWINE HUMAINE JUNIOR
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Team USA’s Youth High Performance Team made a major statement in Germany
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Adam wins 2nd BBG 300 Ultra Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Legendary boxing trainer John Brown honored by Kansas City Royals
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • All or nothing for Jerwin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • Triumphant Return: Jerwin Ancajas Defeats Casero in Los Angeles, Good Job!
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • IM Concio Sweeps Kamatyas Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • OSCAR "LA MIGRAÑA" DUARTE STUNS HOMETOWN FAVORITE KENNETH “BOSSMAN” SIMS JR. WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY
    , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • JERWIN ANCAJAS DEFEATS RUBEN CASERO IN CALIFORNIA
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • The Bout Outside The Ring: Boxing and the Filipino Struggle for Legitimacy
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • Filipino FIDE Master Roel Abelgas finishes second in Hongkong rapid chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • Cañizales defeats Pradabsri and wins WBC title in Venezuela
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • PH's Nouri snags blitz gold in Asian Amateur Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Boxer
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Duarte vs. Sims Jr. Title Eliminator Official: All Fighters Make Weight in Chicago
    , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • ALLEN v MAKHMUDOV, SUGAR NUNEZ IN MEXICO AND MORE AS MATCHROOM BOXING CONFIRMS HUGE AUTUMN LINE-UP – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Undaloc Jr. leads BBG 300 Ultra Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Round One: Dr. Bernard Remollino Brings Pancho Villa Back Into the Ring
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Panya Pradabsri, Carlos Cañizales Make Weight for WBC 108 World Title Rematch in Venezuela
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • “NOWHERE TO RUN” OSCAR “LA MIGRAÑA” DUARTE VS. KENNETH “BOSSMAN” SIMS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Pabular to make 1st title defense on Aug. 12
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025
  • Tacurong excited to play in Buhangin slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 01 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.